U.S. OPEN POLO CHAMPIONSHIP®
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The most prestigious polo tournament in the United States, the U.S. Open Polo Championship is the apex of the Florida high-goal winter polo season attracting fans and polo enthusiasts from across the United States and around the world. Hosted by the National Polo Center - Wellington (NPC) in Wellington, Florida, the U.S. Open Polo Championship is the final leg in the Gauntlet of Polo and is preceded by the C.V. Whitney Cup and USPA Gold Cup.
The U.S. Open was originally conceived as a non-handicapped alternative to the Senior Championship tournament. The first U.S. Open had only two teams, the Wanderers and the Freebooters. It was held at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx borough of New York City. Four 15-minute chukkers were played, with a seven-minute break between each chukker.
After the inaugural U.S. Open in 1904, the tournament was not played again until 1910, when it grew to include six teams. It resumed at Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island, where it was played for several years before relocating to what became its longtime home, Meadowbrook Polo Club in Old Westbury, New York. In 1954, the U.S. Open moved to Oak Brook, where it remained for 22 years, followed by an eight year-stint at the Retama Polo Center in San Antonio, Texas. In the late 1980s and into the 1990s, the tournament circulated among several clubs throughout the United States, including Eldorado, Lexington, Palm Beach and Royal Palm. In 2004, marking one hundred years since the tournament’s inception, the U.S. Open relocated to Wellington, Florida where it has been held ever since.
The U.S. Open Polo Championship perpetual trophy was first presented in 1910 by Joseph B. Thomas. Designed by artist Sally James Farnham, it was inspired by a seventeenth century tureen. The tall silver cup features horses and riders in relief around the top perimeter and the bottom bowl of the cup, as ornate rearing horses rise from the base of the cup. Stolen in 2002, it was recovered a few short weeks later and is currently kept in the care and custody of the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame in Lake Worth, Florida.
Recent contemporary champions include Valiente (2015, 2017), Orchard Hill (2016), Daily Racing Form (2018), Pilot (2019, 2022), Scone (2021) and Park Place (2023). Back-to-back victories in the U.S. Open were last achieved in 2012 and 2013 by Zacara, boasting identical rosters consisting of Facundo Pieres, Lyndon Lea, Cristian "Magoo" Laprida and Mike Azzaro.
History was made during the inaugural Gauntlet of Polo in 2019, when Pilot carried their undefeated streak into the final leg of the Gauntlet and claimed the U.S. Open Polo Championship—earning $1 million over the course of the series and becoming the only team to do so.
In 2023, the finale of the U.S. Open Polo Championship between Park Place (Andrey Borodin, Juan Britos, Hilario Ulloa, Jason Wates) and Valiente (Bob Jornayvaz, Mariano "Peke" Gonzalez, Adolfo Cambiaso, sub. Agustin Nero, sub. Rufino Merlos) spanned two days to determine a champion. Gathering under stormy skies, what started as a light drizzle quickly turned to a deluge forcing a suspension of play at the end of the first half. Resuming action the following morning, a riveting and high-scoring contest ultimately came down to the power and athleticism of the two 10-goalers. Ulloa placed a perfectly-timed hook on Cambiaso at the goal line in the final seconds of play to protect Park Place’s lead and deliver their first U.S. Open Polo Championship, 12-11 along with $100,000 prize money. Read article here.
All eight teams competing in the Gauntlet of Polo (Coca-Cola, La Dolfina, La Fe, Park Place, Pilot, Tamera, The Dutta Corp, Valiente) will be returning for the U.S. Open Polo Championship. Granting individual entries for a third consecutive year, the elite competition will also include Clearwater, a 2024 USPA Gold Cup competitor, as the ninth team vying for the most coveted title in the United States.
In the ultimate test of will and resilience, reigning champions Andrey Borodin, Juan Britos and Hilario Ulloa will re-unite to defend their title with the addition of Marcos Bignoli for Park Place. 2023 U.S. Open finalist and current C.V. Whitney Cup victors Valiente will strive for the organization's third win, as the legendary Adolfo Cambiaso battles for his tenth tournament victory.
Last soaring to the top of the podium in 2022, Pilot will attempt to land their third win in six years. U.S. Open title-holder Gillian Johnston (2002) stands as the sole female competitor of the competition and the series. Johnston will vie to return to the podium for Coca-Cola for the first time since 2002 alongside three-time U.S. Open winner (2012, 2015, 2016) Pablo "Polito" Pieres.
Clearwater, La Dolfina, La Fe, Tamera and The Dutta Corp will all battle for their first U.S. Open Polo Championship title, with La Fe and The Dutta Corp boasting a unique advantage fielding identical rosters to last year's competition.
The 10-goalers competing this year include 2021 U.S. Open champion Poroto Cambiaso (La Dolfina), who is competing in his first Gauntlet of Polo since reaching the 10-goal milestone. Dominating the U.S. Open podium in recent history, the line-up of celebrated and decorated 10-goalers also includes four-time winner (2010, 2014, 2018, 2023) Hilario Ulloa (Park Place), six-time champion (2009, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2022) Facundo Pieres (Pilot) and nine-time victor (1999, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2021) Adolfo Cambiaso (Valiente).
Although Adolfo Cambiaso and son Poroto will play on separate teams for a second consecutive year, Cambiaso still credits his 2021 U.S. Open Polo Championship victory alongside Poroto as the most personal of his storied American career.
The winner of the U.S. Open Polo Championship will receive $100,000 in prize money. In partnership with USPA Global Licensing, each of the teams will select a charity of their choice from 10 non-profits and both charities of the winner and the runner-up will receive a $2,500 donation.
Representing Team USPA is Active Member Kristos "Keko" Magrini (Coca-Cola), Mackenzie Weisz (Tamera) and alumni Jared Zenni and Geronimo Obregon (Clearwater), Santiago Torres (Pilot) (Tamera) and Timmy Dutta (The Dutta Corp).
Learn more about the Gauntlet of Polo.
Photo: 2023 U.S. Open Polo Championship Winners: Park Place - Juan Britos, Andrey Borodin, Hilario Ulloa, Jason Wates. ©David Lominska.
