USPA Throws Down The Gauntlet Again This Year, Right Here In Wellington Gauntlet Series
Starting this February, the United States Polo Association will again “throw down the gauntlet” at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington.
The Gauntlet of Polo is a competition of the world’s preeminent teams, most skilled athletes and finest horses coming together for three months to battle head-to-head for the coveted C.V. Whitney Cup, the USPA Gold Cup and the U.S. Open Polo Championship.
This is the second year of this thrilling high-stakes tournament series for the sport, and there is more on the line than trophies and titles. It’s the ultimate polo match series, and any team that wins all three tournaments will be crowned Gauntlet Champion. The tournament’s total prize money is $1 million — the largest purse in the history of the sport. A second-place prize has been added this year, for even more action and excitement.
How does one win the Gauntlet? Ask Pilot Polo, which took the whole series last year in a final game upset that rocked the stadium. It takes teamwork, strategy, depth in horses, refined athleticism, mental strength, physical toughness and the ability to play for ultimate survival.
The 2020 polo series will again bring in tens of thousands of fans from around the world and bring a positive economic impact to Wellington and the surrounding areas. It begins with the C.V. Whitney Cup held Feb. 1-23 and continues with the USPA Gold Cup from Feb. 22 through March 22, culminating with the U.S. Open Polo Championship set for March 21 through April 19. The games will be livestreamed on the USPA Polo Network each week, with the final match aired to millions of viewers on CBS Sports and re-aired globally.
The Gauntlet of Polo total purse is $1 million. The winning team of the C.V. Whitney Cup and the USPA Gold Cup will receive $100,000 per tournament, and the second-place teams will receive $25,000. The winning team of the U.S. Open Polo Championship will receive $200,000, and the second-place team will receive $50,000. Any team winning all three USPA tournaments will receive an additional $500,000 bonus and be crowned the Gauntlet Champion.
You can see all the action live at IPC’s U.S. Polo Assn. Stadium Field. U.S. Polo Assn., the multi-billion-dollar global apparel and accessory brand for men and women, is the largest sponsor of the Gauntlet of Polo. The brand is known worldwide in 180 countries for its vibrant colors, classic styling and sport-inspired fashion.
“This year, we are thrilled to support and cheer on two of our U.S. Polo Assn. brand ambassadors and up-and-coming champion players, Henry Porter and Jared Zenni, who will play for their respective teams in the Gauntlet series,” President & CEO of USPA Global Licensing J. Michael Prince said. “U.S. Polo Assn. partners with young polo players to be ambassadors in an effort to showcase the fun, passion and comradery of the sport of polo to the world.”
As ambassadors, Zenni and Porter have been sharing stories about the sport and themselves through digital platforms that reach U.S. Polo Assn.’s four million global social media followers, who follow the sport and the brand. They will also wear the double horseman mark on their team jerseys representing the brand and its authentic connection to the sport. U.S. Polo Assn. is the official brand of the United States Polo Association.
Porter’s role as global brand ambassador is focused on the United Kingdom, broader Europe and the Middle East, where he grew up and continues to spend much of his time as a professional player. He has already competed at some of the largest polo games in the world, winning the high-goal East Coast Open, the FIP World Cup Zone Final, the Mansion Cup, the Bronze Trophy at Sotogrande and the 50K National 12-Goal two years in a row. He also reached the final of the Ylvisaker Cup, as well as competing in the illustrious Westchester Cup and the Gauntlet of Polo series last year. Porter competed in the King Power Royal Charity Day with the Duke of Sussex and recently won the Copa Presidente trophy in Argentina. He will play for Santa Clara in the Gauntlet series.
Zenni has grown significantly from a young player to showcasing his talents in global competitions over the past three years. His outstanding performance at the 2018 U.S. Open Polo Championship solidified his role as one of the sport’s most important young athletes. As a member of the Daily Racing Form polo team, Zenni scored two goals in the championship, including the game winner, securing his place as a leader and one of the most recognizable faces of the sport.
U.S. Polo Assn. is the official brand of the USPA, the nonprofit governing body for the sport of polo in the United States. With a global footprint of $1.7 billion and worldwide distribution through 1,100 U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores, department stores, independent retailers and e-commerce, the brand offers apparel for men, women and children, as well as accessories, footwear, travel and home goods in 180 countries. Recently ranked the fourth-largest sports licensor and 36th overall in License Global magazine’s 2019 list of “Top 150 Global Licensors,” U.S. Polo Assn. now takes its place alongside such iconic sports brands as Major League Baseball, the National Football League and the National Basketball Association.
Be sure to come out and watch the Gauntlet of Polo starting Feb. 9 and concluding with the prestigious U.S. Open Polo Championship final on April 19. You can also watch the games at www.globalpolo.com.
