The Gauntlet of Polo ended last week with a final that needed two days to finish. Park Place beat Valiente 12-11 in the U.S. Open Polo Championship at the National Polo Center in Wellington, Florida, taking the title for the first time.
A final split by the weather
The match began on Sunday 23 April, but heavy rain stopped play at half-time. It was completed on Monday 24 April, when Park Place came out the stronger side for the closing chukkers. Valiente, led by Adolfo Cambiaso, kept the pressure on throughout, and the margin could hardly have been smaller.
The decisive moment came in the closing minutes of the sixth chukker. Juan Britos fed a pass to Hilario Ulloa, Park Place’s captain, who carried the ball up the field to put his team one goal in front. Valiente had no time left to recover.
A milestone for Park Place
This was Park Place’s first U.S. Open title. The team collected $100,000 in prize money along with the trophy. Valiente, who had already won the C.V. Whitney Cup this season, were chasing a bigger prize and will feel they came close.
The season in Wellington
It has been a big year for the venue. The USPA bought the National Polo Center in autumn 2022, and this was the first full season under its ownership. The final drew a record attendance and a record global audience across several ESPN platforms, and more than $200,000 was awarded to finalists across the season’s tournaments. U.S. Polo Assn. also donated to charities chosen by the finalists.
The wider 2023 calendar has included the Westchester Cup, which England won earlier this spring, and the U.S. Open Women’s and Men’s Polo Championships. It has been a busy and successful few months for the sport in Florida.
The Americans head home, and the focus for us moves across the Atlantic. The English season starts in earnest next month, and the Cartier Queen’s Cup at Guards is the next big date on our calendar.
Sources: Global Polo
