Saratoga Springs may be best known for its Race Track, however underneath the glaring popularity of the track, there lies many hidden treasures. One of which is the Saratoga Polo Club.

Established in 1898, polo first came to Saratoga with the emergence of the area as a resort town. Despite a period of inactivity during the middle portion of the century, Saratoga polo was revived in the late 70’s and continues to prosper today.

The polo season typically runs from mid June through the beginning of September, with games played Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday evenings. The Saratoga Polo Club is host to many cups and fundraising events, including the USPA President’s Cup, Saratoga Cup, and USPA Hector & Susan Barrantes Memorial event.

There may not be a more exciting time than now for Saratoga Polo, as they look to break ground this fall on a polo themed Private Residence Club entitled Saratoga Polo Retreat.

The Retreat is the first of its kind in the world, and will include over 70 residential units, a Conference Center, and state-of-the-art spa.

“We are committed to preserving the rich tradition of Saratoga Polo,” said managing partner Jim Rossi. “That was our inspiration in creating the Saratoga Polo Retreat, a world-class resort we hope exhibits a unique mixture of culture, past and present.”

Like many other Saratoga residents, I had heard of the club but always found an excuse not to go to a match. All of that changed last week when I finally set out to experience Saratoga Polo on an overcast Friday evening.

Upon arrival, I was immediately overwhelmed by the beauty of the grounds. The magnificent clubhouse stood in the background while two large playing fields were drawn out upon the neatly groomed landscape. The farthest of the fields, historic Whitney Field, is one of four oldest polo fields in the United States.

After chatting with some workers and fellow onlookers, I met up with polo Hall of Famer Tony Coppola, Director of Saratoga Polo Operations.

Coppola was instrumental in the resurgence of Saratoga Polo, and has been involved in every aspect of the club ever since as a player, announcer, organizer, club manager and promoter. He is also owner of a very successful polo tack shop, the Tackeria, based in Wellington, Florida.

Alongside current owners Jim Rossi and Mike Bucci, Coppola and his staff encourage people to come out to tailgate and enjoy the game. “It’s truly a spectator sport and a family outing,” said Coppola, who also works hard to maintain a strong relationship within the community through fundraising. 

Aside from tailgating, visitors have the option of purchasing VIP admission to the clubhouse and VIP hospitality tent where food and drinks are served throughout the match. Tonight’s theme was tappas, prepared and served by staff from the Springwater Bistro. Chef David Britton partnered with Saratoga Polo three years ago and now serves as Managing Partner of Saratoga Polo Catering and Events.

In addition to catering all polo matches, the Bistro hosts weddings and other events at the Polo club as well as catering off-site events. The cuisine served by Britton is world-class and always unique, and has been recognized by the American Culinary Federation.

Coppola continued to describe the finer points of the game to me throughout the first period, or chukker, of the match. Tonight’s match featured Tackeria versus Eureka, with players on both teams ranging in age from 12, none other than Coppola’s son Matt, to age 76. Following the player introductions, the game started with a thunderous roar of running horses and within minutes, the Tackeria had scored the first goal of the game.

 “It’s like ice hockey on horseback,” said Coppola, “It’s always a prerequisite to have the ability to ride, and the best players have a combination of riding ability with good hand/eye coordination.”

Male and female players come from all over the country and the world to play at Saratoga, and tonight was no different, with players from New York and Florida, as well as internationally from Argentina and Columbia.

After the first chukker, Tackeria held a 3-1 lead over Eureka. The scoring slowed down during the second chukker, and following a penalty shot score at the end of the period, Tackeria led Eureka by a score of 5-2.

The game was unfortunately cut short due to rain after the second chukker, affording Tackeria the 5-2 victory.

Following the game, I walked over to the Clubhouse where Jim Rossi greeted me and took me through the trophy cases discussing various historical events over the 100-year history of polo at Saratoga. Like everyone else I spoke to that evening, Rossi was sincere and friendly, and eager to educate me about polo. 

The Saratoga Polo Club is steeped in long history, and well worth the trip. Whether you bring your family to tailgate, or dress up in your finest to enjoy a cocktail in the summer sun, you are assured an enjoyable and entertaining experience.

You may even find yourself sitting beside local businessmen and celebrity supporters such as Tony DePaula, John Walsh (America’s Most Wanted), or chef Robert Irvine (Food Networks Dinner Impossible).

For more information on events, tickets, and the Saratoga Polo Retreat project, log onto www.saratogapolo.com.