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News...
Polo is a Family
Affair in Stanford U.S. Open at International Polo Club
WELLINGTON, FL (March 26, 2007) – Polo has always
been a sport that runs in the family. The names are
familiar throughout the polo world and etched on numerous
trophies in the U.S., England and Argentina –
Pieres, Merlos and Novillo Astrada.
Three sets of brothers from legendary Argentine polo
families are competing in the upcoming 2007 Stanford
U.S. Open at International Polo Club Palm Beach, the
premier polo club in the United States.
The family with the most members is the Novillo Astrada
clan with five brothers.
Thirty-one-year-old Javier, a 9-goaler, leads Tommy
Lee Jones’ San Saba foursome. Nine-goalers Eduardo,
34, and Ignacio, who turned 29 on March 21, again form
the nucleus for defending Stanford U.S. Open champion
Las Monjitas. Miguel, the only 10-goaler in the family
in the U.S., turned 33 on February 10, and is the leader
of Gillian Johnston’s strong Bendabout team, which
will include the youngest brother, 7-goaler Alejandro,
who is 24.
All three Merlos brothers are playing during the season.
Nine-goaler Pite, 38, and 10-goaler Sebastian, 34, are
the foundation of Victor Vargas’ Lechuza Caracas
26-goal team. They have each won three U.S. Open titles
and form a potent combination. Little brother Agustin,
who turned 30 on December 24, is in his second season
as a 10-goaler, and will be the catalyst for a new team,
Laurence-Wallace/Paladin Rally. He is among the most
feared offensive players in the game. Their father,
nicknamed “Cacho” is one of the most respected
players in Argentine polo history.
The Pieres brothers, 10-goal Facundo and 9-goaler Gonzalito,
play for Neil Hirsch’s Black Watch. Facundo, 20,
was raised to 10 goals for the 2007 U.S. season, becoming
the second-youngest to reach the sport’s maximum
rating. Gonzalito, who turned 24 on December 17, is
the oldest son of the legendary Gonzalo Pieres, who
wowed crowds in Wellington during the 1980s and 1990s
and is considered one of the best players in the history
of the sport.
One of Gonzalo Pieres’ contemporaries, Carlos
Gracida, is still playing at a high level in 2007. Gracida,
46, is rated at 9 goals and is the backbone of Bob Daniels’
Pony Express team. He has won 9 U.S. Open crowns, second
most in the history of the tournament.
The Stanford U.S. Open is one of only three tournaments
played at the 26-goal level, the highest-rated tournament
in the United States. The others are the C.V. Whitney
Cup and the USPA Piaget Gold Cup, both also played at
International Polo Club Palm Beach.
The teams will play on the International Polo Club
Palm Beach’s seven world-class Bermuda-grass playing
fields with thousands of spectators expected at every
match.
The games are open to the public. For the Sunday 3
p.m. game on Stanford Field, individual tickets are
$15 for general admission and $40 for lawn terrace seating.
Tickets are also available at the gate on the day of
the game.
Major sponsors at International Polo Club Palm Beach
for the 2007 season include Stanford Private Wealth
Management, Piaget, Bombardier Aerospace, Bessemer Trust,
Westwind Realty, LLC, Panera Bread, Cartier, CityPlace,
Florida Coast Equipment, The Mall at Wellington Green,
Omar Trevino Bloodstock, Inc., Palm Beach Daily News,
Palm Beach Illustrated, Palm Beach Post, Ritz Carlton
Palm Beach, Roederer Estates, The Wellington Institute,
Van Cleef & Arpels, Yamana Gold Inc. and Jim Corbin
Illustrated Properties.
For ticket information, please call the club at (561)
204-5687 or visit the club’s website at www.internationalpoloclub.com.
International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667
120th Avenue South, between Pierson Road and Lake Worth
Road, in Wellington.
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