Gillian Johnston

Polo patron Gillian Johnston, sporting a 2-goal handicap, will once again be leading her Coca-Cola team in action at IPC this season. Heir to a Coca-Cola bottling fortune, Johnston is carrying on a long family polo tradition. Her grandfather played polo, and her father is a former high-goal player. When not in Wellington, she can often be found at Bendabout Farm, outside of Chattanooga, Tenn., where she grew up and the family has long hosted polo tournaments and exhibition matches for charity. Through the years, her team has won just about every U.S. title available, including the U.S. Open in 2002. Johnston is one of a growing handful of women playing on high-goal teams, and she is also active in promoting the sport to the rising generation as vice president of the Polo Training Foundation.

Hilario Ulloa

Hilario 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 and dreamed of one day playing in the prestigious Argentine Open. He got that wish in 2013, and in 2014, he won the U.S. Open with Alegria at IPC. Ulloa, who earned his 10-goal ranking from the USPA in 2017, has been visiting Wellington to play at IPC since 2010. His top highlight from last year is certainly leading his team Daily Racing Form to a 10-9 upset victory in the U.S. Open final against favored powerhouse Valiente. Look for Ulloa this season on Las Monjitas with Camilo Bautista, Francisco Elizalde and Matthew Coppola.

Jeff Hall

One of the top American-born polo stars, 7-goaler Jeff Hall hails from Houston. He has played professionally since he was just 12 years old and has won just about every high-goal trophy available in the sport here in the United States. Also a pilot and an avid golfer, he splits his time between Wellington during the polo season and his ranch in Texas. After winning the Joe Barry Memorial Cup with La Indiana at IPC in 2017, Hall was back in action with the same team last season. He also made waves in Santa Barbara with Lucchese in the Pacific Coast Open and the USPA America Cup before heading to England to represent the U.S. at the Westchester Cup. Hall will be back in action with La Indiana at IPC this season with Michael Bickford, Facundo Obregon and Tomas Garcia del Rio.

Mariano Gonzalez Sr.

Originally from Argentina, 7-goaler Mariano Gonzalez Sr. is now a U.S. citizen. He started riding at age four and has been active on the polo field since age nine. He is the father of 19-year-old Mariano “Peke” Gonzalez Jr., who can also hold his own in the sport, rated as a 5-goaler. In recent years, they can often be found playing together on the same team. Highlights from 2018 include the East Coast Open Final at the Greenwich Polo Club and the Ylvisaker Cup Final at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, where Gonzalez’s team GSA narrowly fell to powerhouse Valiente 8-6. Look for him back in action on the Equuleus team this season at IPC with Joe DiMenna, Iñaki Laprida and Magoo Laprida.

Mariano “Peke” Gonzalez Jr.

Mariano “Peke” Gonzalez Jr., now 19, is a rising polo star and the latest generation in a polo-playing dynasty. The son of 7-goaler Mariano Gonzalez Sr., the younger Gonzalez currently sports a 5-goal handicap. He has been quickly rising through the ranks of the sport. Following a season that included action here in Wellington and at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club in California, Gonzalez was given the high honor of representing the United States in the Westchester Cup last summer at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club in England with Julio Arellano, Jeff Hall and Nic Roldan. Look for him this season at the International Polo Club Palm Beach playing on Maureen Brennan’s Iconica team alongside Sebastian Merlos and Matias Magrini.

Guillermo “Sapo” Caset Jr.,

Polo runs in the family for Argentine 10-goaler Guillermo “Sapo” Caset Jr., who was in the saddle by age five, hitting a ball around the field. As a teen, he quickly soared from a 1-goal handicap to a 6-goal handicap. By 2011, Caset had established himself as one of the best players in the world, reaching the coveted 10-goal rating, which he maintains to this day. Last season at IPC, Caset was named MVP of the Joe Barry Memorial Cup tournament final, which his team Tonkawa won with a 12-9 victory over Villa del Lago/Modere. When not in Wellington, Caset can be found competing with Las Monjitas Polo in Argentina and RH Polo in the United Kingdom. Caset will be back in action with Tonkawa in 2019, alongside Jeff Hildebrand, Agustin “Tincho” Merlos and Sterling Giannico.

Sayyu Dantata

Nigerian oil and gas billionaire Sayyu Dantata will be playing on the field at the International Polo Club Palm Beach this season with his SD Farms team alongside Peco Polledo, Juan “Tito” Ruiz Guiñazu and Jesse Bray. An American-educated mechanical engineer, Dantata returned home to his native Nigeria to begin the energy conglomerate that became MRS Holdings, growing it into one of the nation’s largest companies. Polo has long been a passion for Dantata, who is known to be low-key despite his wealth. However, he is revered in the growing Nigerian polo community as a patron and also ranks as a strong player. Rated as a 2-goaler in the U.S., he saw some action on the field at IPC last season. Expect to see much more of him this year.

Sebastian Merlos

Sebastian Merlos has a fierce passion for horses, making him one of the strongest horsemen playing polo today. The 46-year-old Argentine native is one of the few elite polo players in the world to achieve the coveted 10-goal ranking. Now playing as a 9-goaler, he has captured the titles of every major tournament in more than 18 countries. Merlos played for Travieso in 2017, making it all the way to the U.S. Open semifinals. He was back in action with Travieso last season at the International Polo Club Palm Beach. He returns to Wellington after playing on La Cañada during the fall season in Argentina with Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario, Agustín Obregon and Jared Zenni. Look for him this season at IPC on the Iconica team with Maureen Brennan, Peke Gonzalez and Matias Magrini.

The Best Is Yet To Come In 2019 At The International Polo Club Palm Beach

The International Polo Club Palm Beach welcomes back another elite season of world-class polo beginning Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, and continuing for 17 weeks until Sunday, April 21, 2019. The 2019 season will host teams and spectators from around the world.

Sprawling nearly 250 acres of pristine turf and South Florida landscape, the iconic venue has captivated the attention of polo enthusiasts for decades.

Nestled in the heart of Wellington, IPC offers something for everyone, whether it is viewing and enjoying the atmosphere of a prestigious high-goal match on Sunday, or experiencing and relaxing within the renovated amenities and restaurants, the club becomes the heartbeat of the winter equestrian season.

IPC, acquired by Wellington Equestrian Partners in 2016, has seen a number of additions and improvements throughout the facility in the past three years, attracting more players, patrons and enthusiasts to contest polo’s most competitive North American season. Significant investment into the turf and field maintenance has revolutionized the playing surface, with the club now supporting more games than ever from December through April.

“It’s a very exciting time for our partnership group as we continue to explore new opportunities and possibilities at the International Polo Club,” said Mark Bellissimo, managing partner of Wellington Equestrian Partners. “We’re anticipating an incredibly competitive season this winter, as many of the adjustments that have been made in the off season will positively benefit current and emerging players and teams.”

The season is set to begin with the Herbie Pennell Cup, the annual first tournament of the calendar year, and parlay into a slew of high-goal matches for the ensuing four months.

The introduction of the Gauntlet of Polo has made waves in the polo community, uniting polo’s major forces, the United States Polo Association (USPA), United States Polo Association Global Licensing (USPAGL) and the International Polo Club. The series will highlight the three major tournaments of the season, the coveted C.V. Whitney Cup, the USPA Gold Cup and the U.S. Open Polo Championship, totaling more than $1,000,000 of prize money if a competing team captures victory in all three tournaments, making it the most valuable tournament series in polo history.

Along with the game of polo comes the glitz and glamour of the impressive winter social scene at IPC. The Veuve Clicquot Pavilion and Celebrity Cruises Coco Polo Lounge will return again for another season of social entertainment, featuring an immense and delicious Sunday brunch prior to the start of the iconic 3 p.m. game each week at the venue.

The enjoyable atmosphere, coupled with a perfect field-side view, makes the Veuve Clicquot Pavilion and Celebrity Cruises Coco Polo Lounge two of the most enviable tickets during the winter season. Premier stadium boxes and grandstand seating are also available for purchase throughout the season, as well as field-side tailgating spaces.

Members of the club can experience two spectacular restaurants, the Mallet Grille and 7th Chukker Lounge, as well as utilize a full fitness center, spa and thriving tennis program. The spacious pool and deck are perfect for a lounge day or events, offering an additional amenity for members and their guests.

Weddings, corporate events and sporting tournaments can also be booked and reserved at IPC, making it an ideal location for any special outing or occasion. The picturesque venue offers an extensive list of event spaces and offerings and is open year-round.

In addition to the extensive amenities at the venue, IPC’s management introduced the Polo School in 2018, offering lessons and amateur-friendly games for individuals interested in learning more about playing the sport of polo. Last year, the school welcomed more than 30 students throughout the season, and this year will increase the number of polo ponies and instructors. Lessons are available seven days a week and can be purchased in hourly sessions or in a package plan. In addition to commencement of the Polo School, IPC also launched its first-ever low-goal league, allowing Polo School students and other amateur players in the area the opportunity to compete in a traditional tournament setting.

Gladiator Polo is scheduled to return to the venue in 2019, debuting a new state-of-the-art arena and creating a new buzz in Wellington on Friday evenings. A spectator-friendly and intense version of arena polo, Gladiator Polo will pit eight of the top arena teams against each other over the course of eight weeks, culminating in an exciting final match in April. A traditional Argentine-asado-style buffet will be offered for premium ticket holders, as well as free general admission seating during the matches.

“Our organization is deeply committed to ensuring the future and longevity of polo. We are building a pipeline for future players and providing engaging platforms that will help continue to generate interest in the sport,” Bellissimo said. “We are actively pursuing and presenting field polo and the derivatives of polo that we are introducing to new groups of sponsors and investors, which will help redirect and improve the overall trajectory of the sport.”

The International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South in Wellington. Visit www.internationalpoloclub.com to learn more.

Inaugural Gauntlet of Polo Series Brings Extra Excitement To IPC This Winter

Polo is a sport where you can’t help but be awed by the unrivalled athleticism and the raw speed, strength and beauty of the participants — and that’s just the horses.

Few sports offer the sheer drama and spectacle of polo. Man and animal, competing as one, working in harmony to best their foe on a thundering battlefield.

Now, the rapidly growing “sport of kings” is getting a tournament series worthy of its incredible scope and pageantry.

The United States Polo Association (USPA), USPA Global Licensing (USPAGL) and the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) recently announced a thrilling new high-stakes polo event — one with a title almost as epic as the sport itself: the Gauntlet of Polo.

Launching in February and culminating in April, this trailblazing competition offers a total purse of $1 million — a payday previously unheard of in the world of polo. And all a team has to do to claim the prize is win all three of the sport’s biggest tournaments at the IPC stadium field, home of U.S. Polo Assn., in a row.

Sounds easy, right? Think again. The Gauntlet of Polo is a true “survival of the fittest” competition, and teams are focused on making this one of sport’s most unique and memorable winner-take-all tournaments. That means that the world’s most skilled polo players and finest horses have to be at the top of their game for nearly three straight months if they expect to be crowned champions and hoist the Gauntlet trophy.

The series begins with the coveted C.V. Whitney Cup, held Feb. 13-24, where the winning team will take home the trophy and $125,000.

It is immediately followed by the USPA Gold Cup, held Feb. 24 through March 24. At stake is another title, along with $125,000 in winnings.

The Gauntlet’s final stage is the prestigious U.S. Open Polo Championship, held March 27 through April 21. The Gauntlet highlight show will be aired to millions of viewers on CBS Sports on April 28, and the world will see the winning team take home one of the most beautiful trophies in all of sports, along with $250,000.

Should one team survive the unrelenting competition and win all three tournaments, that team will win an additional $500,000 bonus — bringing total winnings to $1 million. More importantly, that team will be crowned the inaugural Gauntlet of Polo Champion and have its name etched into polo’s history books forever.

USPAGL Chairman David Cummings sees this new series as a turning point for the sport in America.

“The Gauntlet will challenge the world’s top players and horses like never before,” he said. “It will provide an entirely new platform for athletes, teams and sponsors. That means we’ll see an expanded interest in the sport that will literally change the trajectory of polo in this country while offering an incredible game day experience for all fans.”

If you’re a polo player or fan already, the Gauntlet of Polo brings an all-new level of intensity to a sport that already offers it in abundance. If you’re new to the sport, there’s no better opportunity to discover what the excitement of polo is all about.

Whether you’re cheering the non-stop action from the stands in your finest fashions, rubbing elbows with celebrities in the social tents, or stomping divots with a glass of champagne in hand, there is simply no experience quite like it.

Teamwork, strategy, mental strength and physical toughness — teams will need all of these and more from both players and horses alike if they want to call themselves Gauntlet champions. It promises to be one of the most incredible displays of raw power and refined athleticism ever seen in any sport. And if initial buzz for this historic new series is any indication, the world will be watching.

The inaugural Gauntlet of Polo will bring tens of thousands of polo players and fans from around the world to Wellington this winter. Make plans now to be part of this historic event.

For more information and tickets to see these incredible matches live at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, visit www.internationalpoloclub.com.