High Society: San Diego Polo Season

 “Riding a horse is not a gentle hobby, to be picked up and laid down like a game of Solitaire. It is a grand passion.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Polo is one of the oldest recorded team sports in known history, with the first matches being played in Persia over 2,500 years ago.

During the mid 19th century, the beginnings of Polo evolved to take shape as the sophisticated game we know today. Since then, the game has further expanded throughout the world and is now regularly played in over 50 different countries.

The Basics: As the only game whose participants include not only man but beast, Polo is considered one of the fastest and most dangerous games in the world. Highly intense and ferociously athletic, Polo is similar to a game of soccer or hockey, where the main objective is to put a ball through a goal which measures eight yards wide and 10 feet high. Games are played in six, seven-minute periods called “chukkers” where two teams of four players on horseback race back and forth on a 300-yard field in an attempt to score goals against their opponent. Each team player has a given handicap awarded by the Unites States Polo Association between -1 and 10 goals; and each players’ handicaps are added together to form a team that is equal to its competition.

Polo, San Diego-style! If you’re looking for action-packed summer entertainment, the San Diego Polo Club has it all! Beginning on Sunday, June 12th, the San Diego Polo Club kicks off the season with the Rancho Santa Fe Cup presented by Rivera Magazine. Join the who's who of San Diego society for a spectacular day in Rancho Santa Fe.

Following Opening Day, locals and visitors alike are invited to experience polo, cocktails and music at the San Diego Polo Club every Sunday through October 2nd. Gates open at 12:30pm with the First Match beginning at 1pm, the Between Match Exhibition at 2:30pm, and the Feature Match kicking off at 3pm. At 3:45pm spectators are encouraged to partake in a Champagne Divot Stomp, a longstanding Polo tradition where spectators take to the field and stomp divots raised by horses' hooves. Following the fun-filled Divot Stomp ritual, trophies are awarded to the winning team, whereupon attendees proceed to mix, mingle, drink and dance until 7pm at the Polo After-Party. Get the full summer party schedule here.

General Admission Tickets can be purchased on the day of the event for $10 and children 12 and under are free. If you want the ultimate San Diego Polo experience, VIP tickets cost $25 for adults and $12.50 for children, and can be reserved by calling 858.481.9217 or emailing events@sandiegopolo.com.

Insider Tip: Fall in love with polo this summer at San Diego Polo Club’s magnificent outdoor arena. Whether you’re a new or experienced rider, you can join the pros and learn hitting techniques, game strategy, and the fundamentals of polo. Your equipment will be supplied, including a school horse, tack, mallet and helmet. Lessons are held every Tuesday & Thursday at 5pm and Saturdays at 10am. For more information, visit sandiegopolo.com.

Discover more entertainment ideas in our San Diego events calendar.