It is hard to write a polo round-up when the sport has stopped, but that is where we are. The United States Polo Association has suspended all of its tournaments and events, including the Gauntlet of Polo and the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The initial suspension is for at least the next two weeks.
What happened
The last matches before the pause were the second day of quarter-finals in the USPA Gold Cup on Sunday 15 March at the International Polo Club Palm Beach. The USPA acted after the US Centers for Disease Control recommended avoiding gatherings of more than ten people. The final few games were played without an audience. The Association said it was putting the health and safety of players, teams, umpires, staff and everyone else involved first, and that it would keep monitoring the situation.
The last two quarter-finals
- La Indiana 11, Dutta Corp 10. La Indiana went through as the third seed. Polito Pieres converted penalty shots, while Dutta Corp missed three penalties, and Mariano Obregon’s final penalty attempt missed, which decided the game.
- Las Monjitas 12, Patagones 10. Las Monjitas took the last semi-final place. Bautista Panelo scored four goals, standing in for the injured Mackenzie Weisz.
Las Monjitas, who had won the C.V. Whitney Cup a few weeks earlier, were therefore still on course for the Gauntlet bonus when the games stopped. Whether they get the chance to continue is now an open question.
Elsewhere in polo
The suspension is one of many across sport this week, and it is the right call. Polo is an outdoor game, but it brings together players, grooms, owners, officials and spectators from many countries, and the travel involved makes it hard to manage risk.
We have nothing but sympathy for the clubs, players and staff whose seasons have been cut short, and for the many people who make their living in and around the sport. We will report on any decisions on rescheduling as soon as we have them.
For now, the best advice is the same as for everyone: stay safe, follow local guidance, and look after each other.
Sources: Wellington Town-Crier
