- Miami Beach Polo World Cup
- General admission is free; VIP tickets (shaded grandstand plus food and drinks) are $100 Thursday; $130 Friday through Sunday; a 3-day VIP pass is $375; a 4-day VIP pass is $450. A portion of ticket sales will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami.
- Collins Ave., between 20 and 22nd Streets; Miami Beach
- For VIP tickets or further details, visit www.miamipolo.com or call 305-538-3809.
The sport of kings returns to Miami Beach, this year with a brand new sponsor (Maserati) and a stable full of beautiful horses ready to face off in front of thousands of spectators on the sands of the Setai Hotel. The annual event, hosted by The Polo Life Club, draws a well-heeled crowd of sports enthusiasts, polo wives (and girlfriends), team owners and top-ranked players for four days of matches, VIP lounging and fun under the South Florida sun. Here are a few highlights:
1. Girl Power
Polo isn’t just a man’s world as all the ladies who compete in the Women’s Polo Cup on Thursday will confirm. Cecelia Cochran, granddaughter of fabled American 10-goaler Michael Phipps and Debra Atwell, who owns and operates Ashwood Grove Polo school in Vero Beach will compete along with 16 other ladies including 2011 champs Tara Lordi, Melissa Hornung and Angela York in a one-day series of round-robin matches.
2. VIP Lounging
For those that get fatigued after a day of watching polo matches (or polo players) under the hot sun, the Setai Hotel will host special late night chill sessions at the Domencio Vacca Lounge starting midnight on Friday and Saturday. Also, several fetes will take place at the Raleigh Hotel as well: Wednesday night’s cocktail hour and Women’s Welcome and Thursday night’s kick off party, but those are by invitation only so start making some calls.
3. Ponies
Yes, the players are tremendous athletes, but the stars in a polo match are the horses. During one match, a player can use up to four horses, meaning each animal gets in about seven minutes of play to ensure they don’t get overtired or overworked. Polo greats like Gringo Colombres of Argentina, Luis Escobar of Costa Rica, and Nic Roldan and Kris Kampsen of the United States will be riding several of the almost 100 horses that Miami Beach Polo World Cup enlists for the matches.
4. Fashion
Polo matches bring together a stylish lot, so what better way to entertain them than with a few fashion showcases. Once again, this year guests will be treated to fashion shows by La Martina and Blank Silk, a line of women’s clothing by Meghan Walsh, daughter of America’s Most Wanted TV host John Walsh.
