Wellington, Fla. – With socially distanced and safe precautions in place, the LEXUS International Gay Polo Tournament presented by Douglas Elliman Real Estate was a rousing success
. Loaded with safe, socially distanced, frivolity, fun, fanciful attire and fancy footwork by ponies and party people alike, it was a day of celebration. On March 27, history was made – the Senator Cup Final was played on Field 1 of the International Polo Club Palm Beach for the first time. Another first, both teams competing in the Senator Cup Finals were all LGBTQ+ polo players!
For the 11th annual celebration, horses galloped down the field, champagne corks were popped on the sidelines, and fierce competition – both on the field, and off for the renowned tailgate contest – was second to none. High-flying mallets swung by players of all skill levels carried the day, and a spirit of inclusion helped to even the scores. On a day that applauded not only safe practices and good sportsmanship and, more importantly, love, diversity, inclusion, and equality, everyone was a winner.
The final score of the heavily contested match was 8 to 6; Cherry Knoll Farm took home the coveted Senator’s Cup trophy with players Andres La Placette, Gustavo Larrosa, Ryan Cronin-Prather, and Peter Secor, with MVP honors to Ryan Cronin-Prather. First Republic Bank was the runner up team, consisting of Tiffany Busch, Agustin Arellano, Adrian Pia, and Scott Hartzel with Best Playing Pony awarded to Lucia, owned by Tiffany Busch. The action was open and fast in front of a sold out VIP pavilion sponsored by Cherry Knoll Farm. Spectators also watched from their festive and COVID-compliant tailgates. Fun and games continued with the tailgate awards with Best in Show top honors to FlockFest!
In the earlier match, the GPL Futures Cup Finals was played on IPC’s Ilsa Carrol Field East. GJ Racing, with players John Gobin, Tareq Shalani, Darrell Gabel, and Miguel Wilson, won, and Provident Jewelers was the runner up with Hector Galindo, Bruce Schreiber, and Aimee Waters. The Futures Cup Finals score was 4-3. GJ Racing’s Darrell Gabel scored the winning goal in a tense shoot-out.
“To have two all gay teams play on IPC’s Field 1 was an extraordinary happening. GPL has come so far and continues to evolve into a highly competitive league and when polo clubs, like IPC, offer us their best field, it is a thrill!” said Chip McKenney, GPL President and Founder. “We are so appreciative to all who supported our event this year. Last year threw us a curve ball, so this year was special for GPL. Thank you to all the players, professionals, sponsors and spectators for bringing our event to life.”
The Gay Polo League (GPL) celebrated the 11th anniversary of its unique polo event this year, and expectations were high to make it the most memorable and safe event in 2021. As GPL is a platform for human rights, the “GPL Polotini Presents ‘Mask-erade’ Party!” kickoff party on Friday, March 26, was a fundraiser for SAGE, the nation’s oldest and largest organization dedicated to serving and advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) elders.
The event would not have worked without the tremendous and tenacious sponsors who helped pull together a wonderful, safe, and much-needed event during the ongoing COVID pandemic. Team sponsors First Republic Bank, GJ Racing, and Provident Jewelers plus, Hotel at Sea/Celebrity Cruise for sponsoring the GPL specialty Tailgate Competition, were also key to the success of the weekend.
As future planning for GPL 2022 is underway, please reach out to www.gaypolo.com or contact Chip McKenney at chip@gaypolo.com for more information or sponsorship opportunities.