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| It might be the most sensual of sports:
Thirty-two hooves thundering down an emerald field. Jingling bits and bridles. Gleaming leather boots squeaking against burnished saddles. The distant flutter of a red flag far down the field--held aloft to signal a goal, earthward for a missed shot. The sun hot and high in a clear blue sky. Glossy thick horse tails braided tightly. Muscular, mane-free arched necks, shaved clean to make room for the inevitable crucial tangle of reins. The thwack of a whippy bamboo mallet hitting a white plastic ball. |
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For many, polo is a brand name, represented by the famous shirt-pocket logo or th current Nissan Pathfinder television ad in which drivers play a match using their cars as ponies. To its aficionados, the sport offers drama, equine perfection, a chance to enjoy the outdoors and one's extraordinary athletic skills, and fierce competitoin -- not to mention a lively social scene.
Since its inception in 1995, the Bridgehampton Polo Club has become one of the most high profile, prestigious, and anticipated events on the Hamptons' crowded social calendar. Every weekend for six consecutive weeks beginning July 22, 800 to 1,000 invited guests -- including tanned women, elegant in strapless sundresses or cocktail wear, and moguls and magnates in shorts or slacks -- crowd under the noted VIP tent.
A Winner
"It's our most successful year ever," says Neil Hirsch, chairman and CEO of Loanet, Inc. and a passionate polo player who co-founded the BPC. "We've always had four teams, but this year we have seven, and we had to turn several away. It's grown tremendously." Leighton Jordan, one of the trio who helped start the event, says, "Bridgehampton is one of the most successful clubs in the country: the number of teams, spectator, sponsorships, and press coverage." Players fighting for the sterling silver Hampton Cup -- which currently sits in Hirsch's trophy cabinet -- will face a battle come July, Hirsch brdicts. He says the odds are "pretty good" his team will take it home again this year. |
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| The 2000, season once again entitled the Mercedes-Benz Polo Challenge for its main sponsor, welcomes H.S.H. Crown Prince Albert of Monaco as host of opening day. For the second match, on July 29, Dolce & Gabbana will co-host a fashion show with Harper's Bazaar. Season liquor sponsors are Moet & Chandon Champagne and Mezzaluna Vodka, and the season caterer is Xando Cosi, Inc. On August 5, The Leading Hotels of the World will be the sponsor. Previous sponsors have included Van Cleef & Arpels, Brooks Brothers, Wathne, and Piaget. Designers who have held fashion shows there include Vera Wang, Michael Kors, Pamela Dennis, and Cynthia Rowley.
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