Behind The Scenes With The Gay Polo League
By Rebecca Baldridge
Putting together an event like the International Gay Polo Tournament, set for April 24-26 in Wellington, is a Herculean task that begins many months in advance of the big day. The thousands of moving parts involved in a tournament of this magnitude are a lot to manage, and there are key figures who are essential to its success.
Tournament Features Professional Players — The International Gay Polo Tournament is unique in that it features teams made up of participants who don’t regularly play together. Players fly in from all over the world, have one stick and ball session on Thursday, one game on Friday and then comes the big day in front of the crowd. An even bigger challenge is that they’re not competing on their own horses; their mounts are provided for them. Riding new horses with people you may never have played with before is a bit like being thrown into the deep. Fortunately, each team’s professional is there to help.
The polo professionals make a huge contribution to success. They put the teams together based not on handicaps but skill sets, seeking to find players whose abilities are complementary. Once the teams are set, the pros offer coaching and advice to ensure that each game is designed to help players improve.
Argentine polo professional Lala Laplacette has a long history of playing with the GPL. “As a gay pro, I feel there’s nothing more wonderful than the ability to be truly myself on and off the field,” Laplacette said. “The fact that I can do so while helping amateur players build their skills is fantastic. The GPL is all about learning, and every year the polo gets more competitive.”
Sponsors are Highly Valued Partners — No philanthropic event can succeed without the right sponsors, and the Gay Polo League has been blessed with an embarrassment of riches in this respect. Since the tournament’s inception in 2010, the GPL has enjoyed the support of many high-end sponsors, corporate and private. Lexus has been the title sponsor of the event since 2021. In September 2025, Lexus will extend its title sponsorship to the second annual International Gay Polo Tournament in Lexington, Kentucky.
“Lexus has been an incredible partner. They understand our demographic and send a wonderful activation team to engage our audience and promote their brand. They’re truly a pleasure to work with,” GPL President & Founder Chip McKenney said.
Margaret H. Duprey of Cherry Knoll Farm is another one of the GPL’s most enduring sponsors. She has been involved from the very beginning. Cherry Knoll traditionally sponsors the VIP tent, as well as fielding a team, and McKenney emphasized her hands-on approach.
“Margaret is extremely invested in the event and goes above and beyond; she plans the menu for the VIP buffet, pays attention to all the details to be sure the GPL VIP tent is built to enhance the spectators’ experience,” he said. “She also donates to our philanthropic partners and is a truly devoted ally. Margaret has miles of experience in planning major fundraisers and is a trusted sounding board for us.”
RBC Wealth Management is another longstanding sponsor and has been a proud partner of the GPL for 14 years. International law firm Greenberg Traurig is also an established sponsor, as is Dr. Sarah Cohen’s Equity Performance Equine. The practice sponsors the divot stomp, and Cohen traditionally turns out with her entire family and staff to support the GPL. This year, the league welcomes Mars and Veuve Cliquot as new sponsors, with both to provide premium products for the event.
It Takes a Village — As the GPL’s marquee event, the International Gay Polo Tournament rests on the shoulders of legions of people who do more than just talk the talk when it comes to supporting diversity and inclusion. From the players, the pros and the sponsors to the attendees who come from parts far and wide to cheer the teams on, the community is united in its commitment to a cause. This year, the GPL hopes to raise more than $200,000 for the Elton John AIDS Foundation while celebrating the beauty of acceptance and being yourself.
Learn more about the Gay Polo League at www.gaypolo.com.
