PHILADELPHIA, Pa., September 11, 2024--After bad weather cancelled last year's
event, the third annual Philadelphia Polo Classic returns with an impressive lineup of polo players Saturday, Sept. 21 at historic Fairmount Park's Edgely Field.
By Sharon Robb
Nic Roldan, the second highest ranked American polo player at eight goals, Jason Crowder, Kareem and Daymar Rosser, Grant Ganzi and Melissa Ganzi and Shariah Harris, the first black woman to compete in the prestigious U.S. Women's Open, head the lineups that feature Work To Ride alum and current players for the polo doubleheader at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Gates open 10 a.m.
In the featured match at 2 p.m., Mars Equestrian (Melissa Ganzi, Kareem Rosser, Nic Roldan, Brandon Rease) plays Mount Gordon (Shariah Harris, Jason Crowder, Grant Ganzi, Daymar Rosser).
At 11 a.m., the first polo match features Goshen Hill (Jordyn Floyd, Lisa Little, Tajee McLaughlin, Esteban Penados) and Johnson & Johnson (Sarah Martin, Marc Harley, Alyssa Perren, Kenzie Brinkley). Work To Ride alum and current players will take turns playing four chukkers.
Organizers are hoping for a record crowd of 4,000 this year. In addition to polo, a full day of family-friendly activities are planned including an antique carriage parade, Amwell Valley Fox Hounds, Stick Pony Race for all ages, doggie divot stomp, hat contest and largest polo match wobble. There will be food vendors, merchandise tents and mascots. Party tents have been expanded and premium elevated seating will be offered.
“Our first annual event marked a historic moment in Philadelphia when we hosted the Polo Classic in Fairmount Park, showcasing an unprecedented number of black polo players for an event at this scale,” said Kareem Rosser, Executive Vice President of Work to Ride, author, polo champion and Work To Ride alum.
“This year, our goal is to further expand the reach and impact of this incredible sport through our capital campaign, helping us prove that the sport of kings is accessible to all, regardless of background, and ensure that we continue to change lives through the opportunities we create for our Philadelphia youth.”
The non-profit Work To Ride program was founded by Lezlie Hiner at Fairmount Park's Chamounix Equestrian Center in 1994. The executive director's vision more than three decades ago was to empower young people through horsemanship, equine sports, and educational programs. She has attracted participants, ages eight to 18 from communities of concentrated poverty.
The inaugural Work To Ride fundraiser in 2022, not only attracted new diverse fans to the sport, but raised $1.1 million to help build the new 45,000 square foot indoor arena currently under construction and raise an endowment to cover future operational program costs.
"The first year it was a huge success and we had a sellout of 3,000. It was the first polo event that I have ever been to that was incredibly diverse," Rosser said. "It was nice to see people from all walks of life show up and support the event."
In the inaugural Philadelphia Polo Classic, Goshen Hill (Melissa Ganzi, Shariah Harris, Daymar Rosser, Nacho Figueras) and Mount Gordon Farm (Mosiah Gravesande, Grant Ganzi, Kareem Rosser, Nic Roldan) played to an exciting 8-8 tie. Work To Ride's Mosiah Gravesande, 17, a minus-one player, scored three goals and was named Most Valuable Player.
Melissa Ganzi, Grand Champions Polo Club President and owner who grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from Penn's Hahnemann Medical College (now Drexel University) co-chairs the committee to raise money for building the center and awareness for the sport.
All of Work To Ride's programs are free to the students. It's funded primarily by paid lessons offered from April to December, and through donations from the public. Students enrolled in the program work to maintain the stables and care for the horses in exchange for lessons in equine sports.
Most students tend to navigate toward polo but the program also offers English riding lessons with show jumping and fox hunting as well as amateur steeplechase and pony racing. Most participants stay for eight to 10 years on average.
Tickets remain on sale. General admission is $50. Other ticket pages are still available (philadelphiapoloclassic.org). If you can't be there, the games will be streamed locally and worldwide by ChukkerTV (CTV Sports) with Dale Schwetz calling the action.
The new arena, which Hiner calls "a huge shining star for polo and the community," will enable Work To Ride to increase its' youth participation, expand programming year-round, build co-operative partnerships with local institutions and host local, regional and national polo matches.
The fall season at Grand Champions gets underway Oct. 1-6 with the Fall Classic, one of six medium goal tournaments.
Grand Champions and Santa Rita Polo Farm is the largest and most unique private 102-acre polo facility in Wellington with 212 stalls in nine self-contained barns, two tracks, five climate-controlled tack rooms, vet room, staff quarters, guest house and four polo fields with state-of-the-art underground irrigation and short work arena. The club has 11 well-manicured world-class fields at GCPC and Santa Rita.
The family-friendly club welcomes spectators of all ages. All matches, food and refreshments are free (with the exception of special catered and ticketed events) and open to the public and dogs on leashes.
Grand Champions Polo Club caters to men, women and youth polo players at all levels. Its' expert staff can customize a complete playing experience including horses, pros and certified umpires in addition to lessons and practice sessions as part of its' Polo On Demand program.
The Polo School is for all ages and ability levels and operates in Wellington year-round. For more information on tournaments or Polo School Director Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099 or club manager Cale Newman at 561-876-2930.
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