Luis Escobar

Luis Escobar, a Costa Rica native, has been a Wellington resident since 1989. After going pro at age 15, he quickly shot up to an 8-goal handicap, playing with polo legends such as Hector Barrantes and Carlos Gracida. Currently rated at 4 goals, Escobar has been a regular on the Wellington circuit for three decades, based out of his family’s Santa Clara Polo Club. Nowadays, Luis is not the only Escobar to be found on the Santa Clara team. Sons Lucas and Nicolas Escobar have followed their father’s footsteps onto the polo field. Look for Luis Escobar to be leading his Santa Clara team in the 2020 Gauntlet of Polo series at the International Polo Club Palm Beach alongside Matias Magrini, Sebastian Merlos and Henry Porter.

Annabelle Gundlach

Polo patron and former show jumper Annabelle Gundlach started her polo career with a lesson from a charity auction in 2013 and quickly made a name for herself in the traditionally male-dominated sport. She has credited frequent teammate Brandon Phillips with helping her along the way. Gundlach and her Postage Stamp Farm team had a great summer season in 2019, capturing the first-ever American Cup in July and winning the East Coast Open in September at the Greenwich Polo Club. With a 0-goal handicap, Gundlach will be leading Postage Stamp Farm during the 2020 Gauntlet of Polo series at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington alongside Mariano Aguerre, Valerio “Lerin” Zubiaurre and Mariano “Peke” Gonzalez.

Julian de Lusarreta

Argentine 8-goaler Julian “Negro” de Lusarreta has won major tournaments around the world. Local fans may remember him from 2016’s thrilling U.S. Open Final when de Lusarreta and his Orchard Hill teammates stunned Dubai, powered by polo legend Adolfo Cambiaso, to take a 13-12 victory. He was back in action the next year, helping Coca-Cola win the Ylvisaker Cup and making it to the USPA Gold Cup final. He was also a key member of the 2018 Tonkawa team that won the Joe Barry Memorial Cup. He played on the Coca-Cola team during last year’s Gauntlet of Polo series, and de Lusarreta will be back in action at IPC this season for the Gauntlet of Polo on Coca-Cola with patron Gillian Johnston, Nico Pieres and Steve Krueger.

Polito Pieres

Pablo “Polito” Pieres is a key member of the famous Pieres polo family. Now rated at 10 goals — the highest rating available in the sport — he plays in Wellington alongside his cousins, Facundo, Gonzalito and Nico Pieres. Born in the United States, Polito Pieres has played on winning teams in the British Open, the Deauville Gold Cup in France, and the USPA C.V. Whitney Cup and the UPSA Gold Cup at the International Polo Club Palm Beach. He had a great run during the 2019 USPA Gold Cup, advancing to the final match with team Aspen, falling to eventual Gauntlet of Polo winner Pilot 12-11 in overtime. This season, look for Pieres during the Gauntlet of Polo Series at IPC on La Indiana with Michael Bickford and Jeff Hall.

Henry Porter

British polo player Henry Porter began riding horses at age five and has been playing polo since age nine. Born in London, Porter had his first polo lesson in Dubai with Martin Valent, who remains his manager today. He commutes between homes in Florida and England. Now 20 and rated at 3 goals, Porter recently won the Copa Presidente (20 goal) trophy in Argentina. Porter was named in November as a U.S. Polo Assn. global brand ambassador with a focus on the United Kingdom, Europe and the Middle East. Look for him in Wellington this season playing with Stable Door Polo in the 18-goal season and on Santa Clara during the second annual Gauntlet of Polo alongside Luis Escobar, Matias Magrini and Sebastian Merlos.

Santiago Toccalino

Argentine 8-goaler Santiago Toccalino will be back in Wellington this winter after a strong 2019 season. Toccalino’s 2019 highlights include winning the Pacific Coast Open at Santa Barbara Polo, where he played on the Farmers & Merchants Bank (FMB) team, and an appearance in the Indian Empire Shield Trophy Final at the Guards Polo Club in England, where he played on the UAE Polo Team. That followed appearances in Wellington in the C.V. Whitney Cup Final on Las Montijas and the Joe Barry Memorial Cup Final on Patagones. Look for Toccalino during the Gauntlet of Polo series at IPC playing once again on the Patagones team with Gonzalo Avendano, Tomas Garcia del Rio and Geronimo Obregon.

High-Goal Polo Season In Full Swing At The International Polo Club Palm Beach

Amazing Action

The exhilarating sport of polo has officially returned to the grounds of the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington. Both new and seasoned polo fans came out for the opening day of the 2020 high-goal season on Sunday, Dec. 29 featuring the Herbie Pennell Cup final, which is well-known as the tournament that kicks off the exciting winter polo season in Wellington.

Next on the competition calendar is the Iglehart Cup from Jan. 1-5, followed by the Joe Barry Memorial Cup taking place Jan. 5-12. The 18-goal series wraps up with the Ylvisaker Cup, from Jan. 11 through Feb. 2.

The renowned Gauntlet of Polo series will commence next, hosting three separate tournaments of 22-goal competition. First up is the C.V. Whitney Cup from Feb. 1-23, followed by the prestigious USPA Gold Cup from Feb. 22 through March 22, and concluding with the historic U.S. Open Polo Championship, running March 21 through April 19.

Each season brings the best players and ponies from around the world to compete in the elite tournaments on IPC’s hallowed grounds. The iconic venue sprawls over 250 acres with seven state-of-the-art fields, a newly constructed polo arena, a spectator-friendly stadium and 7,000 square feet of indoor event space.

Based in the heart of Wellington, IPC offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy the “sport of kings.” Each week, spectators are invited to attend the numerous matches held across the property with casual tailgating. On Sundays, guests can enjoy the electrifying feature game on the U.S. Polo Assn. Field 1 at 3 p.m. with even more hospitality options, such as stadium seats, premium box seating, tailgates and field-side tables in the Veuve Clicquot Pavilion. Delicious food vendors are available around the main field, as well as a Kids Fun Zone sponsored by Wellington Regional Medical Center for families to enjoy each weekend.

An impressive social scene and lavish brunch can always be found in the Veuve Clicquot Pavilion prior to the start of the celebrated 3 p.m. match. Also returning this winter is the luxurious Celebrity Cruises Polo Lounge featuring all of the VIP amenities guests would expect to experience at a polo event. The enjoyable atmosphere, coupled with a perfect field-side view, makes the Pavilion and the VIP Polo Lounge two of the most enviable tickets during the winter season.

In addition to the traditional Sunday high-goal calendar, IPC has added several other events to its schedule. For the first time, IPC will be hosting the U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship in its custom-built sand arena located by Field 2. Set to run Jan. 2-11, the tournament has a rich history dating back to 1926. For the first time in the history of the event, competition will be played for a $50,000 prize purse.

In February, spectators can enjoy the U.S Polo Assn. 40-Goal Polo Challenge, to be held on Saturday, Feb. 15 from 3 to 6 p.m. on IPC’s Field 1. This is the highest-rated polo event in North America. The annual 40-Goal Challenge benefits the Polo Players Support Group, which provides financial assistance to seriously injured or ill players and grooms. The purchase of a VIP package includes tickets to the cocktail reception, seated dinner, and silent and live auctions following the 40-goal match and awards presentation. The 2019 40-Goal Polo Challenge raised more than $375,000, and this year’s goal is set for $500,000.

Returning for the second year in a row to IPC is the 2020 U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship Final on Saturday, March 21. The charitable, all-female tournament will take place on the U.S. Polo Assn. Field 1 as a 22-goal competition to benefit Susan G. Komen Florida. Tickets are available for stadium seats and tailgates, with a fun contest planned for the “best outfitted” tailgate theme and, of course, a halftime champagne pour and divot stomp will take place in between the third and fourth chukkers.

New developments this season include enhanced food and beverage options for all spectators and family-friendly ticket pricing. Lower-level sections in the stadium will now start at just $20, offering an up-close and personal view of the intense match taking place. Additionally, delicious new signature cocktails will be served for fans seated in the stadium and in general admission zones, featuring Old Hickory Bourbon. For the avid shoppers, the USPA Brand Shop will be open each Sunday behind the stadium featuring beautiful U.S. Polo Assn. clothing products and fun polo accessories. A smaller shopping location will be positioned on the east side of the field for spectators seated in the Veuve Clicquot Pavilion and east tailgates.

In its inaugural year, the Gauntlet of Polo series brought in a record number of participating teams to vie for the coveted $1 million prize and ultimate victory of three tournament wins. The Pilot Polo Team, led by patron Curtis Pilot, mastered the triple champion title, claiming the Gauntlet trophy. This year, 14 teams have registered to compete, including the reigning Pilot champions, all seeking to secure the $1,000,000 prize money purse.

Beyond world-class polo, IPC has become a hotspot for other popular field sports and special events. This past November, the IWLCA Presidents Cup, arguably the world’s largest female lacrosse tournament, was held at IPC. More than 20,000 athletes and spectators were on hand for competition on a total of 47 lacrosse fields. The inaugural Palm Beach Balloon Festival followed a week later, bringing in guests from all over Palm Beach County to view the amazing hot air balloons light up after dark on Field 1, while some spectators even took tethered rides up in the sky.

Brides have also turned their sights on the fields of IPC, booking fall, spring and summer weddings in the Pavilion or out on the main field. With picturesque backdrops and exclusive equestrian-style experiences, the venue offers one of the most unique wedding spots in South Florida. The club has made several great improvements to both its indoor and outdoor event spaces in order to stay with the trends of modern brides. Bookings for events of all sizes and styles are now being made for 2020-21.

To learn more about the 2020 season at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, or to purchase tickets, visit www.internationalpoloclub.com.

Top Brands Come Together To Support The International Polo Club Palm Beach

IPC Sponsors

As the high-goal polo season kicks into gear at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, the venue highlights the large group of committed sponsors, each aiming to help grow the sport, the club and their relationship with its members and spectators during the winter months.

IPC’s Sunday afternoon polo match is one of the most popular and exclusive social scenes for players and other polo enthusiasts to enjoy. Therefore, sponsors of the club reap extraordinary benefits, including brand awareness, consumer engagement and new customer acquisitions.

Each year, IPC is committed to further broadening the sponsorship opportunities for both lifestyle and commercial brands at the venue. Just last season, IPC entered a three-year partnership with the U.S. Polo Assn. global clothing brand and the United States Polo Association, the governing body of the sport, hoping to attract new fans and introduce them to polo.

Following suit with many of the professional sporting league trends, corporate sponsorship deals continue to have a major influence on the prominence and distinction in the sports sector and industry, helping brands reach new target audiences and provide unparalleled experiences for fans and attendees.

As brands and businesses look for creative ways to tap into new and pre-existing audiences, one thing remains certain: sports and sporting events provide a unique gateway for fan engagement and recognition, the ultimate key to a successful sponsorship.

With a trifecta of opportunity, including audiences attending the Winter Equestrian Festival at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, the Adequan Global Dressage Festival at Equestrian Village and the continued expansion at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, corporate sponsorship at equestrian events in Wellington continue to thrive.

This year, IPC will welcome the following sponsors to the venue for the 2020 season: U.S. Polo Assn., the United States Polo Association, CaptiveOne, Celebrity Cruises, Four Seasons, Horseware Ireland, Lugano Diamonds, NetJets, Old Hickory Bourbon, Rosenbaum PLLC, Veuve Clicquot and Wellington Regional Medical Center. Media partners include Palm Beach Illustrated, The Wall Street Journal and Discover the Palm Beaches. The U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship will be held once again at IPC this March to benefit Susan G. Komen Florida.

A few of the exciting sponsor activations include brunch and champagne sampling in the Pavilion presented by Veuve Clicquot, the VIP Polo Lounge within the Pavilion and the halftime divot stomp both presented by Celebrity Cruises, the Kids Fun Zone presented by Wellington Regional Medical Center, a signature cocktail featuring Old Hickory Bourbon, the U.S. Polo Assn. Brand Apparel Shop, a weekly player spotlight to be featured on IPC’s social media presented by Four Seasons and Best Playing Pony blankets provided by Horseware Ireland. NetJets remains as IPC’s official private jet service provider, partnering with the club to offer unique experiences to its members. CaptiveOne will also be the title sponsor of the 2020 U.S. Open Polo Championship tournament taking place in March and April.

Polo competition began this season on Sunday, Dec. 29 and will continue through Sunday, April 19, featuring some of the best polo in the world throughout the duration of the four-month tournament season, concluding with the prestigious U.S. Open Polo Championship Final. Many hospitality options are available for Sunday matches.

For more information about the International Polo Club, or to learn more about sponsorship opportunities, visit www.internationalpoloclub.com.

Phelps Media Is Recalibrated, Recommitted And Ready To Take On The World Equestrian Experts

“Adapt or die” is a well-known business philosophy that transcends all industries. Companies must keep up with the times, and with the avenues of communication and advertising constantly changing, it is more important than ever to tap into the next big thing.

These principles hold true for the Wellington-based equestrian marketing and public relations firm Phelps Media Group (PMG), which underwent key changes in 2019. Primed to be better than ever, PMG’s leadership looks ahead with renewed passion.

Known for its team’s diverse marketing skills and unique networking abilities, PMG has long been one of the top marketing and public relations firms in equestrian sports. Under the leadership of founder and president Mason Phelps Jr., the majority-female team is breaking into the next decade with its eyes on the future.

After using 2019 to recalibrate and reconnect with its core values, PMG has reaffirmed its goal to revolutionize the way competitive equestrian sports are marketed in North America and is excited about the opportunity to represent the sport that launched the business in 2002 to more audiences than ever before.

One of the earliest changes in 2019 came in January when Lenore Phillips was appointed as vice president. Phillips, who joined the team in 2016 as a senior account executive, approached her new position with ideas for growth that were shaped by the years she had spent in the equestrian industry and the knowledge she gained at her position with the marketing and public relations company.

Armed with a team of experts that includes 10 female account executives, Phillips challenged her team to approach equestrian sports with a new lens, one that focused on passion and telling the stories that make horse sports so compelling to both participants and fans.

“When I realized that PMG needed to go in a new direction, I took real stock of what the company was built on and what our assets were,” Phelps explained. “Lenore stood out to me immediately as being a natural fit in a leadership position because of the work she had done with important PMG clients and because of her background in our sport. She has done it all and really understands what makes our community tick. From where the company stands today and the growth we have seen, it seems to have been a good decision.”

To this day, Phillips remains excited about the opportunities offered by her new position.

“Although I wasn’t expecting the opportunity to become vice president, when Mason presented it to me, I accepted without hesitation,” Phillips said. “I have been passionate about horses and equestrian sports my entire life, and I feel that I possess the vision and tenacity necessary to take PMG to the next level. I believe strongly in using new technology to advance our industry in a way that hasn’t been done before.”

Social media and the ever-growing power of the Internet is changing the way people learn, communicate and interact with the world around them. From designing elegant web sites to creating entertaining social media campaigns and implementing vital sponsorship initiatives, PMG prides itself on helping clients take advantage of all available avenues to reach their target audiences and communicate exciting stories.

“I feel there is so much opportunity for people to share in the passion that the relationship between horses and people inspire, and share in the excitement that our sport creates,” Phillips said. “More than anything, I want to be a part of a new era of horse sports in America, and I would love to help make more people aware of how exciting our industry is. I want to be a part of what the future looks like for all equestrian sports. To do that, we employ and investigate a number of ways in which to promote our clients, as well as increase the reach and engagement in our sport as a whole.”

The team at PMG is expanding, and thanks to the strong group of women at the helm, they are on the pulse of every new technology that becomes available. In addition to each staff member bringing relevant academic and professional business expertise to the table, they are all passionate hunter, jumper, equitation, polo and dressage riders.

“It is very meaningful and exciting that this is a business that, with the exception of Mason, is fueled entirely by women,” Phillips said. “I find one of the best things about equestrian sports is that businesswomen in our industry are not hindered by glass-ceiling problems that often plague other industries. The daily achievement of the women that make up PMG is incredibly empowering. Our group is collaborative, dynamic and achievement-driven. Many would be hard-pressed to find a more inspiring work environment.”

As the team focuses on the future, they welcome new clients, events and technologies to their roster, such as Bemer Veterinary, Barn Hero, Voltaire Design, Beacon Hill Show Stables and Mark Edward Partners. These new partnerships will merge with events and farms such as the National Horse Show, the Upperville Colt & Horse Show and Leatherdale Farms, each of which are still continuing to grow and evolve every year. For more information, visit www.phelpsmediagroup.com.