Field Maintenance Is A Longtime Labor Of Love For IPC’s Ray Mooney

By Kayla Anderson

Almost as soon as the last polo pony stepped off the field at the end of the 2016 season, the grounds crew shifted into offseason mode: an eight-month process of field repair, grounds maintenance and facility upgrades to prepare the International Polo Club Palm Beach for an even more spectacular 2017 season.

IPC hosts the annual United States Open Polo Championship and several other high-goal tournaments that attract the sport’s top players and teams from around the world.

“It’s an honor to take care of the fields for these guys,” said Ray Mooney, director of facilities at IPC. “To see all our hard work right up front and have the top players in the world appreciate the fields, it feels really good.”

Few spectators realize what goes on behind the scenes to make IPC the showplace it is. The equipment and technological requirements needed to operate the facility (which Mooney likened to maintaining an 18-hole golf course) are extensive, requiring a three- to four-year development plan.

He supervises a 20-person grounds keeping staff, including a mechanic, and contracts a soil expert and a laboratory to analyze soil samples, determine nutrient content and develop a custom fertilizer. Field repairs, particularly after the intensity of the winter high-goal season, are no easy task. The limited sunlight and cooler temperatures during the winter months prevent the sensitive Bermuda grass from growing. So as soon as the season ends, eight polo fields — covering more than 150 acres — must be aerated before the rainy season starts in July to allow for significant root growth.

“For us, summer is the time to keep up with everything,” Mooney said. “As soon as the season ends, we’re out on the field mowing, aerating and making repairs.”

And field upkeep is only the beginning.

“We have thousands of light bulbs in the facility, hundreds of sprinklers, 40 air conditioning units, miles of fencing and acres of landscaping that we look at during the offseason,” Mooney added.

While his responsibilities are never-ending, often entailing 12- to 14-hour workdays during polo season, Mooney’s work is a labor of love. This season will mark his 11th year at IPC, and he takes pride in his team’s efforts to make the fields look and play their absolute best.

Mooney has maintained and prepared polo fields for more than 1,200 high-goal polo matches, including the most prestigious and competitive polo tournaments in the United States. He also has extensive experience in golf course construction, project management, property management and turf management.

To prepare for this season, Mooney and his team began testing different types of Bermuda grass to make sure that the best one is implemented on the fields. A large area of the main field was sodded with a special sod called “419 sod” to ensure that the field stays primarily 419 Bermuda grass this year.

The grounds crew has also installed Latitude Bermuda grass so it can be tested right next to the Celebration and 419 Bermuda grasses. Mooney is always looking for the next and best grass to keep the fields in top condition.

New ownership at IPC brings along upgrades to the maintenance equipment. Mooney and his team have acquired new tractors, several new carts and a new sprayer. They have plans to continue to upgrade the facility’s maintenance equipment.

While Mooney’s primary focus is to ensure that all aspects of the facility are primed to run smoothly for the 2017 polo season, he and his crew also tend to the needs of the club’s other events.

IPC constantly strives to remain an integral part of the greater Wellington community, hosting events such as weddings, lacrosse games, the USA Field Hockey National Tournament, AYSO soccer tournaments and more.

Hard Work And Determination Pay Off For Newly Minted 10-Goaler Hilario Ulloa

By Shayna Tanen

As a boy, Hilario Ulloa always dreamed of playing in the Argentine Open. He also dreamed of being one of polo’s elite 10-goal players.

In 2013, he played the Argentine Open, and in 2014, he not only played in the U.S. Open against Valiente with his team Alegria — he won it.

And now, for the 2017 season starting Jan. 1, the United States Polo Association will officially rate him as a 10-goaler, in addition to his 10-goal handicap in Argentina.

Ulloa’s dreams have come true, and then some.

Ulloa grew up in Argentina watching his father and expert horse breeder Carlos “Polito” Ulloa train and breed polo horses. He was always surrounded by horses and polo players who visited to pick up horses from his father, he recalled. That was the beginning of his relationship with the sport.

He remembers playing polo on ponies as a 6-year-old with his older brother Salvador Ulloa, who preceded him in professional polo.

“I loved horses, and I loved riding horses,” Ulloa said. “So it was a way to have fun with my brother.”

Fun gradually turned into work, as Ulloa started playing professionally around age 16. His brother, now 32, was 17 when he turned pro.

At 30 years old, Ulloa is ranked as the No. 11 scorer in the world, according to the World Polo Tour in December. He won the East Coast Open in 2016, the U.S. Open in 2014, the C.V. Whitney Cup twice, and the Deauville, Piaget and British Gold cups, among a wide array of other victories and achievements.

For the 2017 season, Ulloa will play three 20-goal tournaments and the U.S. Open at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington.

He trains for these games every day, beginning his morning at the barn. He checks on his horses, rides them and trains them. Then he goes to the gym for an hour or more midday, and finally practices with his team in the afternoon.

Ulloa’s training isn’t all physical. He prepares mentally by watching videos from his own games and his opponents’ games, “to see what went wrong and see what the team did wrong in several ways.”

And his family is always right there alongside him to provide support, he said.

“They follow us everywhere,” Ulloa said. “They know our horses, they know what happens in our games. We are very united.”

That goes for when Ulloa is in Wellington, too. He has been visiting Wellington and playing at the International Polo Club since 2010.

“It’s an amazing polo club, amazing facility, great polo players,” he said. “I think IPC does a great job in having one of the top clubs in the world.”

When he’s not winning matches and working hard on the field, Ulloa is most likely with his family or hosting a barbecue at his Wellington home. He is married and has two young daughters, and they love going out to eat — especially for sushi at Kontiki.

Like his home in Pilar, located in Centauros, Argentina, Ulloa appreciates the equestrian community in Wellington.

“I love to drive on the road and see people riding horses,” he said. “It’s such a huge city of polo and horses and people who work with horses, and I haven’t seen that anywhere else.”

Additionally, Ulloa said most of the polo players who play in his town in Argentina also move to Wellington with their families.

“Of course, the country is different, but the way to live is quite similar. It’s a big community of polo people around the world,” he said.

While Wellington is one home for Ulloa, his go-to vacation spot would be at his farm in Argentina, about three hours away from his home in Pilar, he said. One of the most memorable and difficult matches he has ever played was in Argentina, too, at the 2013 Argentine Open playing for Alegria.

When asked about his best polo memory, Ulloa said, “It’s no doubt that it’s December 2013, when we won the semifinals of the [Argentine] Open… It was a great moment I’ll never forget in my life.”

In that moment, many of his childhood dreams came to fruition.

“I was so happy, I couldn’t believe it,” he recalled. “It was such a good memory because it was in this country [Argentina], with my family, my friends, the people working on my farm, everyone supporting us.”

The win didn’t come easily, and Ulloa said that playing against Ellerstina in the semifinals was probably the hardest match he has ever played. The level of concentration was unbelievable, he said. With eight chukkers, high temperatures and fast horses, Ulloa said jokingly that after the match, “Me and all of our teammates were dead.”

As a player, he plays for his team, and said he does his best to help the team perform well.

Ultimately for Ulloa, it’s his love for horses that fuels his passion for polo.

“I love waking up every morning to go to the barn,” he said. “And to know how the horses feel… to see if they are all sound and all set… I love what I do. I love that my family has a nice life. I work hard also for my family.”

Now that Ulloa has reached his lifelong dreams of playing the Argentine Open and earning the coveted 10-goal rating, he is looking toward the future to create new challenges and achieve new goals.

While he is in Wellington this winter, his top priority will be to win the 2017 U.S. Open at the International Polo Club. Ulloa made it to the semifinals in the 2016 Argentine Open, and next season, he aims to win the final.

International Polo Club Ready For An Action-Packed 2017 Season

Every winter season, world-renowned players and polo enthusiasts flock to the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington throughout the week and on weekends to experience the electrifying sport of polo.

It is indeed a new year for polo in Wellington, as IPC was purchased at the end of the 2016 high-goal season by a new partnership headed by Mark Bellissimo. Bellissimo’s partnerships also own and operate the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, the Winter Equestrian Festival, the Adequan Global Dressage Festival and the Wanderers Club.

Players and spectators will enjoy an enhanced polo experience for the 2017 season, thanks to major improvements made to the fields. Special attention was given to upgrading the stadium field, where Sunday’s featured matches are held.

Sunday polo has become a tradition at the International Polo Club. While club members have access to private box seats in the grandstand, an abundance of seating options allow guests to watch polo for as little as $30.

IPC also offers the opportunity for guests to tailgate on either side of the Pavilion. Polo fans can purchase a tent for the season, which includes 12 complimentary tickets, enjoying their own food and beverages.

The Pavilion, meanwhile, hosts more than 700 guests each Sunday for its Champagne Brunch. The Champagne Brunch features an ever-changing array of delicious culinary items spread out over various stations. A seat at brunch starts at $125 with tables available for groups. Beginning at $200, guests can snag a seat at the Coco Polo Lounge, which includes a specialty food display, a gift item, field-side lounge seating and a complimentary glass of Veuve Clicquot champagne. With a fun atmosphere and a prime sidelines view of the polo match, the Pavilion is a prime ticket to the action.

During halftime, guests pour onto the field to ceremoniously stomp the divots, stepping on tufts of turf unearthed by the horses’ hooves. Spectators can enjoy complimentary champagne, mingle with others and see the latest fashions.

Families are always welcome at the International Polo Club. Free of charge this year, IPC will offer the Kids’ Fun Zone — an area near the bleachers that offers fun children’s entertainment while the match is on. Every week, new activities and special events will be presented to youngsters ages 5 to 10. Weekly features may include face painting, crafts, games, ponies, a petting zoo, a fire truck on display with education about fires, interactive sports with youth coaches, a giant slide, bounce houses or a rock climbing wall.

During the 17-week season spanning from Jan. 1 through April 23, IPC will host four 20-goal tournaments and three 26-goal tournaments, including the coveted C.V. Whitney Cup, the USPA Gold Cup and the U.S. Open Polo Championship, considered the top three polo tournaments in the United States.

Whether one prefers a low-key match on the backfields during the week or Sunday’s 3 p.m. featured stadium game, IPC offers options for all levels of polo enthusiasts.

The International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South in Wellington. For more information, visit www.internationalpoloclub.com or call (561) 204-5687.

International Polo Club Welcomes Returning Sponsors And An Ever-Increasing New Group Of Luxury Brands

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LILA PHOTO

The International Polo Club Palm Beach will begin its season on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, and is supported once again by a host of sponsors dedicated to the continuation and success of polo in the United States.

Since IPC first opened, it has been a staple in the polo community, attracting spectators, top international players and enthusiasts alike from around the globe to the heart of Wellington.

The prestigious cachet of the International Polo Club has become a coveted brand, attracting luxury sponsors seeking to align with the exclusive lifestyle personified by the elite sport.

Palm Beach is a legendary winter retreat for high-profile corporate giants, jet setters and scene-makers. Combine these signature traits with the passion, performance, sportsmanship and sophistication of Sunday polo, and you have an unbeatable partnership of titans.

“When luxury brands sponsor a high-profile sporting event, they choose one that will exemplify and elevate their image. This enables them to reach target markets with messages that resonate with their clientele,” said Mark Bellissimo, who purchased the polo club at the close of the 2016 season. “IPC embodies the messages that elite brands align themselves with: tradition, elegance, high performance, unparalleled quality and an inspiring sense of style.”

Partners seek maximum visibility, impact and exclusivity. Customized polo sponsorship packages include a variety of elements, such as tournament underwriting, media exposure, polo team and player awards, signage, onsite events and a prominent product presence at polo matches or special promotions. Social media has exploded, and savvy brands are also focusing on driving digital activation campaigns and creating a dynamic online presence.

The lineup of sponsorships for 2017 at IPC is impressive, with many loyal sponsors returning and new ones coming on board, as well as many more still in discussion. Here is what you can expect to see this polo season:

Engel & Völkers has renewed its naming rights for Field 1, the championship field in front of the grandstand, where Sunday’s featured matches and tournament finals are held.

Wellington Regional Medical Center returns as the official hospital partner for the winter polo season. This year, WRMC is sponsoring the Kids’ Fun Zone, which in 2017 will be open free for children. It will offer fun activities such as coloring, face-painting and other activities.

Veuve Clicquot maintains its position as the official champagne at IPC. A new Veuve Clicquot Champagne Garden at the Pavilion will be open to the public.

Seminole Coconut Creek Casino returns as the sponsor of the Coco Polo Lounge at the Pavilion. You can buy a brunch ticket on the IPC web site and upgrade the experience to the Coco Polo Lounge.

The United States Polo Association, which is the governing body of the sport in this country, and U.S. Polo Assn., its global licensing entity, are sponsoring several of the highest-level polo tournaments (26 goals) in the United States at IPC. Among them are the USPA Gold Cup and the USPA U.S. Open Polo Championship.

On the stadium side of the field, anyone with a general admission ticket is welcome to enjoy food items and specialty drinks at the Ketel One Kitchen, sponsored by Ketel One Vodka.

Additional 2017 sponsors include: AIG Private Client Group, FIPA Group, the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach, Lugano Diamonds and The Wall Street Journal.

Visit www.internationalpoloclub.com for more information, ticketing and sponsorship inquiries.

IPC’s Chef William Sellner Cooks It Up With Love At Children’s Home Society Benefit

By Kayla Anderson

Hosts and chefs recently gathered in some of Palm Beach’s most breathtaking homes for an event to benefit the Children’s Home Society of Florida. The International Polo Club Palm Beach and its executive chef, William Sellner, participated in “The Ultimate Dinner Party” on Wednesday, Nov. 16.

The 24th annual event raised more than $250,000 for Palm Beach County’s most vulnerable children.

“The event was incredible,” Sellner said. “It’s so important to the club and me to donate our time and food toward this wonderful cause. The proceeds help children in the system have the opportunity to be adopted into loving families.”

Sellner became involved with the event when one of his purveyors asked him to come along and lend a helping hand. After his first dinner party, the chef knew that this was a cause he wanted to support.

Involving IPC was the next step, and the club was happy to help. IPC and Sellner partnered with the Children’s Home Society as a major partner in Palm Beach County to donate time and food.

The evening began with a cocktail party at the magnificent Palm Beach home of Jeff and Mei Sze Greene. Following cocktails, guests divided into more intimate groups, where they enjoyed custom creations by Sellner and other top chefs. He and other professional chef members of the Palm Beach County Chapter of the American Culinary Foundation planned and prepared a four-course meal for the hosts and their guests.

Hosts included Mr. and Mrs. Leo Vecellio, Ross Meltzer and Victor Figueredo, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Greene, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Miller, Virginia Mortara, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Myers, Mr. and Mrs. Keith Beaty, Thomas C. Quick, Mr. and Mrs. David Dreman, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Allinson, and Dr. and Mrs. Richard Lazzara. Guests included Raysa and Alfie Fanjul, Joel Pashcow, Pam and Peter Dupuis, Michael and Annie Falk, Carol Jaeger and Douglas Jencks, Michele and Howard Kessler, Carolyn Grace, and Tony and Vanessa Beyer.

The event’s honorary chairs were Tom Quick and Susan Miller. They were supported by epicurean advisors JoAnna Myers, Pam Dupuis, Tiffany Cloutier, Marzia Precoda, Holly Dreman and Afsy Pottash. The platinum benefactors were Mr. and Mrs. Howard Kessler. Gold benefactors were Mr. and Mrs. Peter A. Dupuis, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Myers, Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Grace, Thomas C. Quick, Mr. and Mrs. Tony Beyer, and Pine Creek Sporting Club and Myers Auto of Palm Beach. The media sponsor was Palm Beach Illustrated, and the invitation sponsor was Christofle.

The event has raised more than $4 million since its inception 24 years ago. The money benefits the more than 17,000 vulnerable children and family members that the organization serves in Palm Beach County each year.

“We are thankful for the support we’ve received from the American Culinary Federation,” said Rachel Spillane, special events coordinator for the Home Society. “The event’s success wouldn’t be possible without the time, talent and resources donated by Palm Beach area chefs from properties such as the International Polo Club, the Jupiter Beach Resort and the Breakers. We are honored by our partnership and look forward to the continued positive impact we’ll have on children and families in Palm Beach County.”

The Children’s Home Society of Florida is the oldest and largest statewide organization devoted to helping children and families. Since 1902, the society has offered services that help break the cycle of abuse in families, heal pain for traumatized children and guide teens to successfully transition into adulthood to create strong, loving families.

“The Ultimate Dinner Party” is the Children’s Home Society of Florida’s signature event, taking place in Palm Beach’s most luxurious homes.

“As a chef, it’s the part of life where you need to feed your soul in order to feed others,” Sellner said. “Giving that positivity out there, especially to organizations in need, is such a great thing.”

Palm Beach Masters CSI3*-W Returns To Wellington Feb. 2-5

By Taylor Renner

In 2016, the picturesque Deeridge Farms, owned by Jeremy and Margaret Jacobs, opened its gates to a new, prestigious equestrian event in the Wellington community. Bringing together top athletes from around the world to compete at the highest level of show jumping, the event was a great success for the equestrian community.

The Palm Beach Masters, formerly known as the Wellington Masters, will return to the winter equestrian capital of the world Feb. 2-5, 2017. This year, show organizers are looking forward to putting on an even bigger and better event as it continues to grow in popularity and bring together the best of the best.

The Palm Beach Masters is once again designated a CSI3*-W event by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and will play host to the 12th Longines FEI World Cup Jumping North American League qualifying event — one of 14 within the league — leading up to one of the year’s most highly anticipated competitions in show jumping, the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Finals in Omaha, Neb., in March.

Wellington has historically held a World Cup qualifying event at the Winter Equestrian Festival, but in 2015, a conflict hindered the show’s ability to further host a leg of the competition. With no host venue, it looked as though Wellington might lose the event in 2016. However, the Jacobs family, longtime Wellington residents, stepped up and offered their 300-acre estate to stage the event in order to keep the qualifier in Wellington.

“I think it’s wonderful being able to keep the event in Wellington,” Louis Jacobs said. “It actually improves the equestrian community in Wellington because you get those extra competitors who may be competing somewhere else during the season to come to Wellington for the week to get World Cup points. From what I understand, the entries even went up at the Winter Equestrian Festival during last year’s event, just because there was increased interest and concentration in the market.”

Louis is proud that his family has been able to help. “It means the world to us to have a World Cup qualifier in Wellington,” he said. “That’s why we stepped up and raised our hand to host it and, as the old saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats, and we like that.”

Wellington is world-renowned for top-tier equestrian sport, and the Palm Beach Masters will build on the success of the inaugural 2016 event to become established as a premier, stand-alone international show jumping competition in the United States.

“This event is special to me for a lot of reasons,” Charlie Jacobs said. “One, first and foremost, it’s my family’s farm, so there’s a bit of nostalgia there, having been on that property for more than 30 years — since 1980. Seeing it all come together as it did last year for the first time was incredible. We received a great deal of positive feedback from the exhibitors and spectators, but this year, we’re working to improve the venue and event on all levels.”

A number of changes were made at Deeridge Farms for this year’s event.

“We completely re-did our grass field and the drainage system with the idea being that if we were to get another 4 inches of rain, like we did last year the night before the competition, we would still be able to use the grass ring,” Charlie said. “We also expanded the all-weather footing arena so it’s almost double the size of what it was last year. We also had a two-story, 60-meter VIP tent last year, and we were overwhelmed, frankly, with the great feedback regarding not only the seating and the views, but also the hospitality. So this year, we ordered an 80-meter tent, and we expect it will also have a third story to accommodate judges and announcers. We’re looking forward to the event, and we’re very excited for this upcoming season.”

Charlie, who is president of the event with his brother Louis, will also be competing in this year’s event in an effort to collect valuable World Cup ranking points. Charlie traveled to Gothenburg, Sweden, and represented the United States at the 2016 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Finals and hopes to do the same in 2017.

“I aspire to go to the finals in Omaha,” he said. “I was in Gothenburg last year and, from what I’ve been told, it will be radically different with the venue and size of the ring. I think my horse would be well-suited for it. I’d love to go given the opportunity, and hopefully we earn enough points to make the trip.”

A total of 14 athletes from the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping North American League will qualify for the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Finals in Omaha from March 29 through April 2. The top seven athletes from the East Coast sub league and top three from the West Coast sub league, plus the two best-placed athletes from Canada and Mexico, will qualify for the final, alongside winners from 14 other leagues around the world.

Following last year’s success, the Palm Beach Masters invites riders, owners and equestrian fans to once again return to scenic Deeridge Farms during the first week of February to experience shopping, socializing and equestrian sport at an exclusive, stunning and appropriate setting fit for a world-class show jumping event.

“I would hope that everybody who comes has a wonderful experience,” said Katie Jacobs-Robinson, sister of Charlie and Louis and a successful amateur hunter rider. “We really design the process around the horse and the welfare of the horse as the number-one priority. We do limit the entries because we want to preserve the safety and sanctity of the competition itself, but we also hope the people who come really enjoy themselves and the experience as a whole.”

For more information about the Palm Beach Masters, visit www.palmbeachmasters.com.

Polo Is A Way Of Life For Wellington’s Bollini Family

Story and Photos by Julie Unger

Polo is a sport that tends to run in families — large, extended families where grandfathers, fathers, sons, mothers, daughters, uncles and cousins play, or have played, this sport of kings, where horse and rider barrel down the field with mallet in hand to score a goal.

For Wellington’s Bollini family, polo isn’t just a sport, it’s a way of life. It’s part of their culture and part of their family. It isn’t a sport they just play, it is part of who they are.

“It was something that was natural,” Juan Bollini Sr. said. “Polo, for us, I’d say, it’s in our blood.”

In Argentina, polo is a family tradition on Juan Sr.’s mother’s side. He was born in Buenos Aires and spent a lot of time on the family farm playing polo with his uncles and cousins. His professional polo career, however, started later than for most. He attended university, worked at a bank for seven years, and was invited to play polo in the Wellington area in 1985.

“Since then, I have been lucky enough to have a good relationship with the patrons, and I started playing with Rolex and the Oxley family,” he said. “Now I’m with the Ganzis.”

Juan Sr.’s wife, Cecilia, has also taken her turn with the mallet. She competed before their children — Mariana, 26; Juan Jr., 20; and Santos, 17 — were born.

“I love riding, and I love horses,” said Cecilia, who prefers to stay on the sidelines nowadays.

Mariana, who lives and works full-time in Argentina, also played polo for a while before choosing a different direction. Her brothers, however, are thriving in the sport.

Polo players are ranked on a scale from -3 to 10, with few players reaching anywhere near the coveted 10-goal status. Juan Sr., who is currently ranked with a 5-goal handicap, was once ranked at 8 goals. Juan Jr. is already ranked with a 3-goal handicap and considered a professional polo player. Santos, still in high school, isn’t far behind, with a 0-goal handicap.

Juan Jr. was introduced to the sport at a young age thanks to his family when they were living in Argentina. “We would go to the farm on the weekends and play with my cousins, my uncles and my dad,” he recalled. “That’s how I started.”

During breaks from school, Juan Jr. would come to the United States and play in youth polo tournaments. “It’s the part of the family tradition that got me into polo,” he said.

When he isn’t on the polo fields, or at the barn, Juan Jr. is studying international business and trade at Florida Atlantic University. The sport, and his father, have taught him to never give up and play as hard as he can every time he’s on the field. He is applying that same lesson to his education.

Other sports have caught Juan Jr.’s eye, such as tennis and soccer, but polo has always been his top priority.

For Santos, polo is also a way of life.

“It has always been around. It’s just the way I grew up. I love it. It’s the sport that I’ve been practicing my whole life,” he said.

Santos attends Wellington High School and is low-key about his life on the field. Only his close friends know he is an avid polo player.

Perpetuating the family tradition is one of the important aspects of polo for the Bollinis.

“It’s something that the entire family can enjoy, between the being outside, and the horses and the game,” Juan Sr. said. “Polo is such a great sport, because you can play so many different levels. There’s a level for everyone.”

It’s a sport that he can share with his family, playing with his sons and enjoying the beautiful weather that South Florida and Argentina have to offer.

“It’s something that keeps the family together,” Juan Sr. said. “You spend a lot of time in the game. You spend a lot of time in the barn. You talk about it.”

What people often don’t realize, Juan Sr. explained, is that there is a great deal of work that goes on behind the scenes, caring for the horses and working with the horses.

“It’s a passion,” he said. “It’s a way of life.”

Polo is also a sport that keeps families together. There’s a lot of traveling and time spent with other polo families. As a 30-year professional polo player, Juan Sr. is thankful to the Ganzis, who own the Grand Champions Polo Club and the Aspen Valley Polo Club. Through his association with them, he has been able to work, and play, with his sons.

Playing with their father is important to Juan Jr. and Santos.

“Playing with my family is something that few people get to experience, even though it is a family-oriented sport,” Juan Jr. said. “Playing in tournaments and playing competitively with your family, that’s something even greater. That’s something that out of all of the people who play polo, not many of them get to experience, just because of the age difference or the handicap difference. It’s something that you really value when you’re on the field with your brother, or your dad.”

Having a built-in support system is advantageous for players, including for Santos, a rare left-handed player in a sport played with the right hand.

“Playing polo with my dad, with my family, makes it easier for me, for us. Not only do we have a mentor 24/7 at home, even when we’re not on the fields, but also it makes us feel way more comfortable when we are on the field, because it’s your dad and your brother,” Santos said. “You still want to try your hardest, but you’re in a comfortable state where you can perform well.”

With Grand Champions as their home club, the Bollinis are able to play with many different players. “Being part of such a large group, you have a variety of possibilities for teams,” Cecilia said.

She offers her support from the sidelines, juggling a career as a community health worker with her equestrian family life.

“I facilitate workshops for nonprofits to help manage people with chronic conditions, and diabetes, especially the older adults and Hispanics,” Cecilia said. “We’ve been traveling for polo for all our married life, so I’m accustomed to it. It’s a part of our lifestyle.”

For Cecilia and her family, Wellington has always been a comfortable place to be.

“Having come here so many years, now we’re living here, it has always been a very comfortable town to come to as a foreigner,” she said. “We always felt at home.”

Part of that is knowing so many people in the wider polo community.

“The people who live here all year-round are very open and welcoming to those who come seasonally and those who choose to live here year-round,” Cecilia said.

Brandon Phillips Brings Lessons From The Polo Field To Philanthropy

STORY BY MELANIE OTERO • PHOTOGRAPHY BY LILA PHOTO

Brandon Phillips approaches philanthropy the same way he does the polo field: Surround yourself with a great team, make it fun and bring your competitive spirit.

It’s a philosophy that the Wellington resident and world-renowned polo professional has followed for the past four years as the founder and honorary chair of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Polo for a Purpose event. Always believing he can do more, Phillips has helped grow the event from a luncheon that raised $60,000 in 2013 to a full day of events that raised six times that amount — $360,000 — in 2016.

He is determined that this year’s Jan. 16 event at the International Polo Club Palm Beach will best a half-million dollars and attract an even greater number of guests.

The program begins at noon with a luncheon, silent and live auctions and a cocktail reception. At 3 p.m., the grounds of the venue will open for scheduled family-friendly activities, and at 4 p.m., there will be a concert by Gipsy Sound Revolution.

One of Phillips’ first experiences that drew him to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society was personal. As a survivor of stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that struck at age 14, Phillips was asked by LLS to talk to a Boca Raton boy named Bruce Steinberg who was going through recovery. Steinberg wanted to meet a professional athlete. What he found in Phillips was a lifelong friend.

The two first met at Phillips’ stable in Wellington. As Steinberg admired the horses, the survivors discovered they were like-minded in how they fought their cancer battles.

“I see so much of myself in Bruce when I was his age,” Phillips said. “We both have very positive attitudes and know that this disease is a hurdle we just need to jump. Our outlook during treatment was more about how it interfered with our sports and the good time we were having as teenagers. We never thought about dying.”

Although Phillips travels extensively as a polo professional, he always makes time for Steinberg when he’s home for the winter in Wellington. In between, the two stay connected through texts and social media.

Philips also makes sure that Steinberg is always involved in Polo for a Purpose. “We’ve made Bruce an honorary member of our team,” Phillips said. “He’s our fifth player.”

Phillips’ relationship with Steinberg and his first Polo for a Purpose event were what made him break his silence about his childhood cancer.

“It took me a while to accept this role,” he said. “After I was sick, I didn’t want to speak to anyone. When I turned 30, I decided to see what I could do to help.”

He has kept his word. In just four years, Phillips has created a wildly successful and popular charitable event in a county that is home to countless fundraisers. He is very aware that the event must be different, fun and more exciting every year to keep attendance and support growing.

“It’s no different from competitive polo,” Phillips noted. “We have to top ourselves every year.”

Phillips is quick to credit the team around him — co-chairs P.J. Rizvi, Visse Wedell and Penny Bradley, and LLS Executive Director Pam Payne — who challenge each other to make the event a memorable experience for people of any age or income bracket.

Rizvi used her connections to take the event to the next level this year by inviting Gipsy Sound Revolution — a reincarnation of the Gipsy Kings with several of the original band members — to perform after the match. And throughout the day, the co-chairs have arranged for the grounds to be filled with activities for families. A kids’ zone, ice cream trucks and face painting are just some of the activities planned.

“We really want people to enjoy themselves,” Phillips said, adding that for $40, guests can spend the day at the polo club, watch an exciting match and stay for an amazing concert.

For those wishing to make a larger contribution, there will be a gourmet luncheon with silent and live auctions before the four-on-four high-goal polo match.

Seating for the luncheon is limited and nearly sold out. The cost for the polo match and concert is $40 per person, and tailgate tents holding up to 10 people with admission to the concert cost $400.

Polo for a Purpose is just as fun for Phillips as he hopes it is for attendees. It’s a homecoming of sorts for him, and a way to give back the community that embraced him.

He started his professional polo career in Wellington at 17, and his teammates are top players who trained together in their late teens.

“We lived together, fought with each other and worked our way up from the bottom together as we were becoming professionals,” Phillips said.

Phillips sees another type of camaraderie in the stands as his team plays. The entire six-row front section of the stadium is given to children fighting cancer and their families. “To just be a kid, have fun and experience something new and exciting like polo means everything to these children,” Phillips said.

If he had his wish, cancer never would ail another child. He’s proud that the money raised from the event will go toward research for blood cancer cures and patient support in Palm Beach County.

“An important part of our funding goes toward families who have a child with cancer and can’t afford the travel and other expenses they incur as they’re going across the state or the country trying to save their son’s or daughter’s life,” Phillips said.

Saving lives through research is why LLS exists, said Payne, executive director of the Palm Beach area chapter.

“Forty percent of the drugs in the FDA pipeline approval are for blood cancers to help keep people alive, thrive and have a life like Brandon’s,” she said. “Children who have cancer look at Brandon and see an amazing athlete who was once where they are now. It’s hard to find enough words to express how grateful we are to him for his work toward a world without blood cancer.”

Phillips’ competitive spirit comes through when he reflects on his work for LLS.

“I always want to do better,” he said. “That’s the attitude I try to pass along to kids — winning is everything, it’s the only thing, especially when the game is your life. You have to think of the future and do what you have to do. It’s a test from God. You have to pass. You have to win.”

If you ask any of the kids rooting for Phillips, they’ll tell you he already has.

To learn more about the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Polo for a Purpose event, call (561) 616-8682, e-mail events@poloforapurpose.org or visit www.poloforapurpose.org.  

Top Jock Tack Boxes Building Irish Roots In Wellington

By Taylor Renner

For any equestrian business, there is no better place to be during the winter season than Wellington. At the start of each new year, Wellington transforms into an international hub for all things equestrian. With so many opportunities to promote and expand his business within such a niche market for four months, Top Jock Tack Boxes founder Joseph Moran has decided to make Wellington his company’s seasonal home.

Originally from Galway, Ireland, Moran started Top Jock Tack Boxes in 2012. After a successful first year building tack boxes for customers across Ireland, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Germany, Top Jock Tack Boxes expanded stateside and is currently based in New York. The company’s innovative, custom boxes have become a must-have item among top riders, such as international show jumpers Shane Sweetnam, Schuyler Riley, Jonathan and Christine McCrea, and McLain Ward, as well as top dressage rider and trainer Douglas Puterbaugh, to name a few.

Top Jock Tack Boxes brings both quality and functionality with completely customizable, luxury tack boxes built specifically for equestrian athletes. Any size, color and layout can be designed with custom interior configurations and high-definition exterior graphics, along with solid oak engraved panels to feature personalized branding options, such as an athlete’s sponsors, country, web site, stable or other details.

Durable, weatherproof and beautifully crafted, a Top Jock Tack Box makes a great first impression, is practical and, most importantly, protects the owner’s valuable equipment.

“I know a lot of Irish people who are based in Wellington, and they all tell me it’s the place to be during the winter,” Moran said. “That’s where most of the major farms go, and with the products that we sell, from an equestrian business point-of-view, it was imperative for me to be there as well.”

Moran has known about Wellington and the Winter Equestrian Festival for years.

“I saw a lot of posts from WEF through social media,” he said. “I always knew WEF was the biggest show around, and it was definitely a show that I wanted to attend. Last year was our first year at WEF. It was definitely very beneficial for Top Jock Tack Boxes. We got sales from the show and made valuable connections within the top levels of the sport. We loved the whole experience. More than anything, it was just about being there and experiencing it all.”

For Moran, being able to connect and see firsthand an inside perspective into the lives of top riders from around the globe while in Wellington helps him cater his products to fit his customers’ needs.

“Last year, I had the opportunity to tour a couple of top equestrian facilities in Wellington,” he said. “Being able to see the different farms and layouts and the quality of the facilities — it really helps me to develop my products. When I get to see their barns and talk with the riders, I learn a lot about what they’d like to see or have at their barns. There are always a lot of ideas being thrown around, and it’s so beneficial for me because I might see things I haven’t seen before and get new ideas for products.”

Growth within the local Irish equestrian community also sparked Moran’s interest in coming to Wellington. Over the past few years, top Irish riders have established home bases in Wellington, such as show jumpers Shane Sweetnam, Darragh Kenny and Richie Moloney.

“It’s nice to be able to meet up with some of the Irish people in Wellington during season,” Moran said. “There’s a huge Irish community, and they’re all willing to help in any way they can by referring us to other people and telling them to have a look at our products and explaining who we are.”

This year, Moran has even bigger plans to take advantage of his time in Wellington with Top Jock Tack Boxes, providing top-of-the-line bespoke tack boxes to equestrian enthusiasts and athletes alike.

“We’re a lot more organized and prepared this year, with it being our second year,” Moran said. “2017 will be our first full, proper year at WEF and in Wellington during the winter. From that point of view, I very much look forward to it, and I expect it to be a successful season. More people know who we are and what we do now, so I think it’s going to be an even better experience for us this year.”

To learn more about Top Jock Tack Boxes, visit www.topjocktackboxes.com or contact Moran at enquiries@topjocktackboxes.com or (845) 269-9888.