Polo has a social problem. Let’s face it, when did you last walk into a bar and find everyone cheering a polo game on television? Ordinary neighborhood kids never post pictures of polo stars on their walls. And the word “chukker” is definitely not part of the vocabulary of the average sports fan.
In the United States, polo usually means money — and old money at that. If you can trace your family tree back to the Mayflower, you’re probably also the member of a polo club. The clubs vigorously insist that the sport is open to all. Well, sure. Just bring your own horse.
Attempts have been made to overcome that most basic of obstacles. Lessons and membership are now available to the horseless at most polo clubs. At the same time, variants of the sport have been devised using bicycles (www.bicyclepolo.org) and, more recently, Segways (www.segwayhtpolo.com). But at its purest, polo is all about horses and riders, the ultimate test of equine agility and skillful horsemanship.
Polo originated in Asia around 2,000 years ago. It was imported to Europe by British military officers in the mid-19th century, and was introduced to the United States in 1876 by newspaper magnate James Gordon Bennett. Thus, the foundations were laid for the sport as we know it today, in which royalty, aristocrats, tycoons, and suave polo professionals (usually Argentinean) gallop around an immaculate field while the beautiful people clink their champagne glasses and rattle their jewelry on the sidelines.
But in Asia, most notably in Pakistan, the game has remained true to its roots. It is played and watched by people from across the social spectrum. The highlight is the Shandur Pass Tournament, which is held on a remote playing field 11,000 feet up in the Karakorum mountains each June. More than 10,000 spectators travel to the back of beyond to witness the event, which is one of the most remarkable spectacles in world sport.
For the less intrepid, the northern Pakistani city of Gilgit (where at least there are international standard hotels) holds an annual polo tournament in early November. There you can experience the indigenous, no-holds-barred version of the game, in which the polo mallets often are used to knock rivals off their horses, and blood and broken bones are common.
More extreme still is the primitive version of the game played in Afghanistan. Known as buzkashi, there are no mallets and no ball. Instead, the riders battle each other to carry the headless carcass of a calf to a scoring circle known as “the circle of justice.” There are no other discernable rules. It is not unusual for a close game to end in a shootout — a real one, with guns.
Buzkashi is a million miles from the rarified atmosphere of American polo, which is presided over by the United States Polo Association (www.usa-polo.org). Recently, efforts have been made to bring polo to ESPN, where its format — the game is divided into six chukkers, each lasting seven minutes — is tailor-made for commercial breaks. A new tournament, the Triple Crown (www.triplecrownofpolo.com), has been initiated to appeal specifically to a potential mass audience. The 2007 televised event begins at the Sarasota Polo Club on March 25.
Will it work? Will the sport manage to shake off its elite reputation and attract a large television audience? Mainstream U.S. sports fans who remain indifferent even to soccer, the world’s most popular sport, will take some convincing.
Read This Next
Continental Airlines Business Class
2007
Jan 2, 2013Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedMarch 2024
Mar 27, 2024Udaipur Unveiled: A Walking Tour in Rajasthan’s Most Romantic City Reveals Its Many Layers
Anyone who makes their way to Rajasthan in northern India has likely heard of Udaipur’s allure. The city revered for its lakes and marble palaces is considered by many who know not only the Indian subcontinent but the planet as a whole to be the most spectacularly romantic city on Earth.
Sponsored Content
Hit the High Notes in Nashville
Nashville’s once-modest skyline continues to evolve as its luxury market grows. Lavish hotel properties are added to the landscape while acclaimed chefs stake claim in the robust culinary scene and premier cultural offerings round out the city’s repertoire.
Daily
Mar 27, 2024Go Island Hopping in Spain with Meliá Hotels International
It’s time to start planning summer travel. Consider a chic island getaway off the coast of Spain. Spain’s Meliá Hotels International offers a collection of hotels throughout the islands that highlight the Spanish lifestyle.
Daily
Mar 27, 2024“Deal or No Deal” Interactive Game Show Comes to Holland America Line
Holland America Line expands its entertainment offerings by launching the game show brand Deal or No Deal on nine ships. TimePlay, an entertainment software company, powers the show format, with a highly adaptable design and strong brand identity, on more than 85 ships worldwide.
Sponsored Content
Revel in a European Summer with AmaWaterways
Pedal through sun-drenched vineyards, hike amidst blooming wildflowers and take a refreshing dip in your ship's sun-deck whirlpool. Indulge in the flavors of the region with delectable dishes featuring luscious Wachau Valley apricots and succulent Serbian plums. As night falls, watch as the cities along the rivers come alive, pulsating with an irresistible electric energy. The sun-soaked days and vibrant nights offer a compelling reason to embark on an AmaWaterways river cruise during the upcoming summer months.
eFlyer Reviews
Mar 27, 2024Hotel Indigo La Paz Puerta Cortés Review
Hotel Indigo La Paz Puerta Cortés is an oasis where the desert meets the sea, nestled between the Sea of Cortez and La Paz Bay in Mexico. With an emphasis on providing guests a relaxing experience through wellness and culture activities, the hotel is a short 10-minute drive from Downtown La Paz, Mexico. Upon entrance under the porte cochere you are greeted with a palette of whites and browns, a theme constant throughout the property.
Japan Airlines Purchases 32 Airbus, 10 Boeing
eFlyer News
Mar 27, 2024eFlyer Lead
Mar 27, 2024Aeromexico Named Most Punctual Airline in the World
Cirium, a global aviation analytics company, recently released the most on-time airlines in the world for early 2024. The study found Aeromexico as the most improved airline in February, with a 90.66 percent on-time performance, a 12.5-point increase in on-time performance over January 2024.
Sponsored Content
Travel Tips to Help Protect Your Health and Your Trip
Five Tips to Help Minimize Potential Travel Problems
Daily
Mar 27, 2024Hyatt Regency Chicago Unveils Renovations This Spring
Half a century ago, several architecturally significant buildings not only changed the face of Chicago but also reintroduced the city as a world-class travel destination. Roughly a year after the Sears Tower (now Willis Tower) emerged as the then world’s tallest building, Hyatt Regency Chicago opened its doors in August 1974. A second tower was constructed in 1980, making it one of the most ambitious hotels the city had seen, down to its above-ground skyway and underground concourse.
ShareThis