The Argentine season is under way. The 61st Jockey Club Open began on Tuesday 8 September at the Jockey Club’s San Isidro grounds, and La Natividad La Dolfina opened with a 15-10 win over Don Ercole on Ground 5.
The opening match
La Natividad La Dolfina, rated at 34 goals in this tournament, were Camilo and Barto Castagnola, Poroto Cambiaso and Lolo Castagnola. Don Ercole were rated at 31. Five teams rated between 28 and 34 goals are competing. The opening phase runs to 12 September, the top four go through to the semi-finals on 16 September, and the final is on Saturday 19 September.
A five-goal win for the champions is a strong start, though it is early days and plenty can change in the semi-finals.
Who is in the Triple Crown?
The Argentine Triple Crown begins on 22 September with the Hurlingham Open. The two top-rated teams are La Natividad La Dolfina (40 goals) and Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu (37). La Natividad La Dolfina won the Triple Crown last year, and Adolfo Cambiaso became the only player to win it five times when they beat Ellerstina 17-13 in last December’s Palermo final.
The last place in the draw was settled on 7 December 2025, before the Argentine Open final, in a playoff for eighth place. La Aguada Don Ercole beat La Zeta Kazak 13-12, with a late run from Facundo Llosa giving them the win in the final seconds. That meant Kazak, whose line-up that day was Lorenzo Chavanne, Beltran Laulhé, David Stirling and Nico Pieres, had to find another route in, and the new qualification tournament is it.
The qualifier
Eight teams will play in a qualification tournament on 24 September, 28 September and 2 October. League winners will join the Tortugas Open and the Argentine Open, and for the first time the Tortugas is also open to qualifiers, which is a welcome change for teams who want a place in the biggest tournaments.
- Hurlingham Open: 22 September to 3 October
- Tortugas Open: 6 October to 7 November
- Argentine Open: 10 November to 12 December
In France, the Open de France Barnes continues at Chantilly with the quarter-finals ahead. We will bring you the finals in a week or so.
Sources: Polo Times (Jockey Club Open), Polo Times (La Aguada Don Ercole), Polo Times (Triple Crown dates)
