Polo in the Afternoon…So Very Civilized.

Over the weekend I attended a very enjoyable polo match at Great Meadow, in The Plains, Virginia.  It’s the same location where the annual Virginia Gold Cup steeple chase racing occurs. 

The Great Meadow Polo Club holds twilight polo matches on most Saturday evening during the summer and weekend daytime polo matches periodically. Additionally, check out the July 4th major polo event of the season, with an expected 20,000 people in attendance.

People get dressed up, women wear colorful sun dresses and big summer hats. Many groups rent tents and put out big, fancy spreads for all their guests.  And champagne seems to be the beverage of choice.

Polo dates back to the Persian empire around the the 5th century, and was played as a training game for cavalry soldiers and a game for the elite noblemen. 

It eventually spread around the world, but is still a very specialized sport, requiring player to have several well-trained horses for each match.  Polo is currently played professionally in over a dozen countries.

To better understand the game, here’s a few terms to learn:

• Chukkas -  Same as a period of play – usually 4, 6 or 8 chukkas per match
• Field – The playing field which is 300 yards (274m) by 160 yards (146m).
• Polo Pony – The horses are referred to as ponies, not horses,
• Divot Stamping – spectators walk the field during breaks to replace and step on divots to keep the field’s grass in good condition.  It’s also an excellent time to socialize.
• Stadium or Arena Polo – played on a smaller, enclosed field with wooden boundary, approx. 100 yards (91m) by 50 yards (47m).

Great Meadow Polo Club
Great Meadow
5089 Old Tavern Road
The Plains, Virginia  20198 (map it)

Dates & Times – Most Saturday evenings, (gates open at 6:30 p.m.) through September 5, 2009, but check the schedule for times and dates.

Tickets – $10.00 per person or $20.00 per car. Reserved covered party spaces are also available for rent.

Parking – Free parking is available.

And yes, that’s me with the lovely Joy Hodges, Miss District of Columbia!! She will be competing for the national title of Miss United States in July in Las Vegas.

Images – from personal collection   ©2009, Jon Rochetti 

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