ON BEHALF OF THE
Our thanks to the USPA for allowing us to make this information available to all their on-line Members: News about the Hall of Fame Dinner in February, The 2009 Westchester Cup, purchasing “Walk of Fame” Bricks and more.
POLO MUSEUM’S HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES INDUCTEES FOR 2009
On Friday, February 13th, 2009 we hope you all will join us in welcoming into the Hall of Fame Owen Rinehart, the late Gonzalo Tanoira, posthumous Iglehart Award Winner Hugo Dalmar, Living Iglehart award winner Jesse Upchurch and Horses to Remember, Belle of All and Rotallen. The 20th Annual Hall of Fame Awards Gala will be held at the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame in Lake Worth.
We also will be introducing the members of both the English and American teams, visiting English dignitaries and USPA officials at the Hall of Fame dinner as we kick off the coming week which will lead into the historic playing of the 2009 Westchester Cup. (see story below.)
The pre-dinner Grand Champagne Reception will begin at 6:30 p.m., and will feature six “Sponsor Stations” offering many wonderful delicacies to enjoy while strolling around the silent auction. A seated dinner follows, and is capped off by the awards presentation and dancing afterward. Tickets are $200.00 per person. Seating is limited so please make your reservations early. Reception hour Sponsor Station opportunities are also available and silent auction items are welcomed at this time. Please contact Brenda Lynn at the Museum of Polo: (561) 969-3210 or (561) 969-7015, fax: (561) 964-8299 or e-mail: polomuseum@att.net for further details, information and reservations.
We are happy to welcome Roederer Estate as the new champagne sponsor and also returning sponsors Lipman Brothers/Brown Forman, Bombardier Business Aircraft, Mr. and Mrs. Marc Ganzi, Mr. and Mrs. I. Thomas Uskup and 302 Polo Cooperative, and International Polo Club Palm Beach. Sponsorships are still available.
DON’T MISS THE 2009 WESTCHESTER CUP
On Saturday, February 21st, 2009, the playing of the 2009 Westchester Cup will pit America against England as they vie for the oldest and most prestigious trophy in international polo competition. It is being played to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the United States’ first win of this historic international tournament in 1909, a win which turned the tide of polo and paved the way for a series of triumphs for the U.S. This will mark the first time since 1939 that the British have traveled to the United States to play for the 122 year-old trophy and will feature some of the top polo players from Great Britain and the United States in two practice games, culminating in a single match played at the 30-goal level. Organized by and for the benefit of the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame, the 2009 Westchester Cup will be hosted by International Polo Club Palm Beach. The United States Polo Association and the American International Polo Foundation are sponsors for this event.
The team line-up coming from England is Luke Tomlinson (7), Mark Tomlinson (6), James Beim (7), and Eduardo Novillo Astrada (9). Representing America, Adam Snow (8) has been appointed team captain heading a team that includes Mike Azzaro (9), Nicolas Roldan (8) and Jeff Blake (6), alternate, Julio Arellano (8) with Owen Rinehart acting as the team coach. Melissa Ganzi has graciously offered her fine string of horses to the English team and Julian Hipwood is helping in the pony selection process, securing extra ponies from other individuals as well. The excitement is building and polo players and fans on both sides of the Atlantic are getting primed for the revival of this contest which is expected to be a sellout.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be field-side to witness a new chapter of polo history. Tickets are on sale through the box office at International Polo Club Palm Beach (561) 204-5687 x 107. Box seats are $50.00 each, Reserved Lawn seating is $25.00, General Admission is $10.00 and Tailgate Spots are $100.00 per car. Seating is limited and is first come first served. For further details, please contact Brenda Lynn at the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame at (561) 969-7015, or (561) 969-3210, e-mail: polomuseum@att.net. or please visit our webpage at www.westchestercup.org.
Short History –
The first International Polo Challenge Cup, known today as the Westchester Cup, was first played in 1886, at the Westchester Polo Club in Newport, Rhode Island. The cup was won and successfully defended by teams from Great Britain for the next 23 years, a sign of their supremacy in polo. But in 1909, the United States assembled a team that came to be known as “The Big Four” – team captain Harry Payne Whitney, brothers Monty and Lawrence Waterbury, and Devereux Milburn. They went to England along with a string of 28 of the finest ponies ever brought together, taking with them a new style of play and a burning desire to win, and brought the Cup home to the United States. This legendary team would go on to defend the cup which was played at Meadow Brook in 1911 and 1913, without losing a game. The cup was lost to the British in 1914.
Throughout the 20s and 30s, the United States challenged, won and defended the Cup led by the great Tommy Hitchcock, Jr., whose father had played in the first, and unsuccessful, challenge for the Cup in 1886.
Great Britain did not score its next Westchester Cup victory until 1997 which is the last time the match was played. The English team will arrive here in possession of the magnificent and much coveted Westchester Cup and will be defending it at the February 21st game at the International Polo Club in Wellington. For more history, photos and information please visit our website at www.westchestercup.org.
The Museum is a 501(c) 3, not-for-profit educational organization. A portion of the admission proceeds is tax-deductible. Receipt available upon request.
WALK OF FAME BRICKS – A Great Gift Idea – Next Installation, February 4th
We are now taking orders for your Bricks to be installed soon. Please contact Brenda at the Museum right away to reserve your place in polo history with a brick in the Museum’s Walk of Fame. There is also a special area designated for Intercollegiate/Interscholastic recognition. For further details, call Brenda (561) 969-3210, fax: (561) 964-8299, e-mail: polomuseum@att.net. Bricks are 8 x 8 and allow 5 lines, from 14 – 18 characters per line.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE MUSEUM OF POLO
The Museum of Polo has an ongoing mission to preserve the rich history and tradition of our sport. For us to continue to do so, we need your help. If you would like to contribute to the Museum to help continue its mission of preserving the history and tradition of polo, please send your tax-deductible contributions now. We welcome gifts of cash, securities or other negotiable instruments. For further details, please call the Museum at (561) 969-3210. Please make checks payable to: The Museum of Polo and send to 9011 Lake Worth Road ,
The
YOU CAN BE IN THE HALL OF FAME!
How? Participate in the new Hall of Fame Challenge Cup Polo Tournaments. Clubs can host this USPA sanctioned tournament at any level from 2 goals to above. Proceeds from the entry fees will go to benefit the Museum of Polo & Hall of Fame – This is a great way to help support the
FUEL YOUR PASSION FOR POLO!
Experience the History ~ the Tradition ~ the Thrill of the Sport. When in South Florida, we invite you to visit the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame, a non-profit educational center created to preserve the history and tradition that surrounds the sport of polo.
Open Monday – Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and in polo season (January – April) on Saturdays, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Admission is free, donations are appreciated.