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 presented by TruBar 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), Park Place (2023) and La Dolfina (2024). 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 2024, La Dolfina (Alejandro Aznar, Rufino Merlos, Poroto Cambiaso, Tomas Panelo) and Valiente (Adolfo Cambiaso, Mariano “Peke” Gonzalez Jr., Paco de Narvaez Jr., Joaquin “Pelo” Vilgre La Madrid) met in an anticipated third consecutive final to determine season supremacy. Splitting the first two legs in the Gauntlet of Polo, Valiente’s veteran leadership led to the storied organization’s sixth C.V. Whitney Cup title, while the second clash of the Cambiaso’s saw La Dolfina power their way to USPA Gold Cup victory. In a fitting finale to an impressive first season, the dynamic duo of Poroto Cambiaso and Panelo contributed nine goals, dominating the pivotal sixth chukker to secure La Dolfina's historic 10-7 triumph and $100,000 in prize money. Read article here.
All 11 teams competing in the USPA Gold Cup (Brookshire, BTA, Clearwater, Coca-Cola, Globalport, La Dolfina/Catamount, La Dolfina/Tamera, La Fe Eastern Hay, Park Place, Pilot, The Dutta Corp) will be returning for the U.S. Open Polo Championship. Granting individual entries for a fourth consecutive year, the elite competition will also include The Setai, as the 12 team vying for the most coveted title in the United States.
In the ultimate test of will and resilience, reigning champions Poroto Cambiaso, Rufino Merlos and Tomas Panelo will face-off as competitors, with Cambiaso leading the attack beside Merlos for La Dolfina/Catamount and Panelo suiting-up for BTA. Current C.V. Whitney Cup champions La Dolfina/Tamera will strive for the combined organization's first win, as the legendary Adolfo Cambiaso battles for his tenth tournament victory.
Capturing the title in 2023, this year's USPA Gold Cup winners Park Place are heating-up for the series finale, with four-time champion Hilario Ulloa at the helm. Last soaring to the top of the podium in 2022, Pilot will attempt to land their third win in seven years. Securing spots in both the C.V. Whitney Cup and USPA Gold Cup finals, Coca-Cola will vie for a return to the podium for the first time since 2002, led by U.S. Open title-holder Gillian Johnston (2002) and three-time winner (2012, 2015, 2016) Pablo "Polito" Pieres. Brookshire, Clearwater, Globalport, La Fe Eastern Hay, The Dutta Corp and The Setai will all battle for their first U.S. Open Polo Championship title.
The Gauntlet of Polo presented by TruBar will feature all six USPA 10-goalers, ensuring unparalleled skill and competition. The decorated list includes nine-time victor (1999, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2021) Adolfo Cambiaso (La Dolfina/Tamera) and four-time winner (2010, 2014, 2018, 2023) Hilario Ulloa (Park Place). Poroto Cambiaso (La Dolfina/Catamount) will strive for his second (2021, 2024) title, with Tomas Panelo (BTA) vying for a second consecutive personal triumph. Reigning Argentine Open champions Bartolome Castagnola (Globalport) and Camilo "Jeta" Castagnola (Brookshire) round out the top-ranked talent. Each will aim to add the U.S. Open Polo Championship to their impressive collection of high-goal hardware, following the family legacy of two-time (1999, 2000) champion Bartolome Castagnola Sr.
Although Adolfo Cambiaso and son Poroto will play on separate teams for a third 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. Learn more about the Gauntlet of Polo. In partnership with USPA Global, each of the teams will select a charity of their choice from 10 non-profits and both charities of the winner and runners-up will receive a $2,500 donation.
Representing Team USPA are Active Members Kristos "Keko" Magrini (La Fe Eastern Hay), Nicolas Diaz Alberdi (The Dutta Corp) alongside alumni Steve Krueger (BTA), Jesse Bray (La Dolfina/Catamount), Cody Ellis (Pilot), Matt Coppola (Tamera) and Timmy Dutta (The Dutta Corp).
Photo: 2024 U.S. Open Polo Championship Winners: La Dolfina - Rufino Merlos, Alejandro Aznar, Tomas Panelo, Poroto Cambiaso. ©David Lominska
