From the polo pony’s mouth: the inside word on the Bridgehampton Polo Club 1999 season. Bottom line: where else in the world would want to be?
Bits and Bytes
Look for polo to be a snapshot of summer 1999, a reflection of the Hamptons at our best. The most beautiful sport in the most beautiful surroundings. Where else but Two Trees Farm could you possibly want to be at 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoons, after the beach and before evening activities? On the field, high-goal players—the best on the international polo circuit—astride some of the best-trained horses in the world. The pace is breathtaking, the game dazzling and dangerous.
It’s called the King of Sports or the Emperor of Games. I sometimes wonder how many kings or emperors in history could have lived as well—or had as much fun—as we do in July and August in the Hamptons. Look around under the tent: it’s relaxed, it’s joyful, it’s secure. It summarizes our good lives and good fortunes. It could be the legend of our lives in the Hamptons at the millenium.
Players to watch
The champions:
Mariano Aguerre of White Birch, Mike Azzaro of Chubb/RR&A, Pite Merlos of Mercedes Benz, all 10 goal players.
Up and coming:
Jeff Blake of White Birch, Nick Manifold of Two Trees, Todd Offen of Chubb/RR&A
Gender bending:
Ashley Schiff of Two Trees, the only woman playing in Bridgehampton.
What to look for
Size: the polo field is 300 yards long and 160 yards wide; it’s12.4 acres of dense green grass. Traditionally, at half time, the audience helps to replace divots unlodged by play.
Speed: The polo ball, weighing only 4 ounces, can be driven to speeds approaching 100 miles an hour by a mallet that weighs only 7 ounces. It all has to do with that swing. It takes a good polo horse only 3 seconds to accelerate to 35 miles per hour.
Skill: Watch all four players on each team. Numbers 1, 2 and 3 play an offensive game, number 4 defense. But keep in mind that the game is fluid and functions change. Number 3 is generally the strongest player and strategist.
The competition.
Enjoy the best of everything: the food, the drinks, the fashion, the company around you, and, most of all the polo match. Only the Argentine Open at an awesome 40 goals, and the US Open at 26 goals outrank Bridgehampton Polo’s 20 goal team limit. Look for great play on the field, and take pleasure from it. Remember: it is not an elitist pastime. It’s a serious sport. In the 1920’s, 40,000 people used to show up for matches at Meadow Brook.
The experts
Lots of people come to me with questions about polo. When I have questions, I go to umpire Tom Hughes, sports announcer Tony Coppola, or Frederic Roy, editor of The Morning Line, the newsletter that brings us worldwide polo results and publishes an edition here twice a week during the Bridgehampton season.
Helmets off
To Peter Brant and Neil Hirsch for getting it all started.
To Carol Goll and Mercedes-Benz Polo Challenge for in reality making it all possible.
To London Misher Public Relations for organizing the afternoons.
To Jane and David Walentas of Two Trees Farm for welcoming us.
To WVVH for telecasting the entire match.
Equestrian glory
One of the season highlights is the quality of the horses. Team owners make the effort to bring the best and the brightest, not to mention the speediest and sturdiest, to Bridgehampton. We don’t often see horses like this. Reminder: we may call them ponies but size restrictions on polo horses were eliminated in 1923.
And a word for our sponsors
Thanks for the party and thanks even more for the sport. Title sponsor: Mercedes-Benz. Other biggies: Jaeger-LeCoultre (July 24th), the D&D Building (July 31st), and Chubb Insurance (August 7th). Also: Bacardi, Grolsch, Signature Cigars, and Mezzaluna. Alan Wilzig of Trustcompany Bank gives the Best Playing Pony Award. Paul Russell presents the Glenlivet Scotch Most Valuable Player and Best Shot Awards weekly. A good reason to compete: the award includes a bottle of Glenlivet.
