This heart-pounding competition is a true survival of the fittest as the world's preeminent teams, most skilled athletes and finest horses will come together for three months to battle head-to-head for the coveted C.V. Whitney Cup, USPA Gold Cup® and the U.S. Open Polo Championship®.
The prize, the richest in the sport. The competitors, the best in the world. The location, like no other. For polo teams, athletes, fans and sponsors the GAUNTLET OF POLO® is polo's toughest test. Any team who consecutively sweeps all three tournaments will earn their place in history as the 2025 GAUNTLET Champion.
$25,000
February 8 - 23
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$75,000
Feb 27 - Mar 23
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$100,000
Mar 24 - Apr 20
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Brackets
All teams are guaranteed three games. C.V. Whitney Cup finalists will be seeded in positions three and 11. Bracket I plays within the bracket (loser of first game plays third team, then the winner of first game plays third team), Bracket II plays cross bracket (first day winners play first day losers) and Bracket III plays cross bracket (first day winners play first day losers).
After the first round, all teams will be ranked one through 11 on win/loss record. Ties between teams who played each other will be broken by who beat who. All other ties will be broken by a one-man shootout. The top five teams will advance to the quarterfinals.
Teams ranked six through 11 will play a third round game. If there are ties on record among the teams in the third round games, the ties will be broken by who beat who, if possible, then net goals, then gross goals, then coin toss. Teams ranked six, seven, eight will draw from teams nine, 10 and 11. The three teams with the best records after third round games will advance to the quarterfinals. If it is necessary to break a tie on record to determine which teams advance, the tie will be broken by a one-man shootout.
In the quarterfinal pairings, teams ranked one through four will draw opponents from team five and the three teams that advanced from the third round games. If there are ties on record among the teams that advance to the quarterfinals, the ties will be broken by who beat who if possible, then net goals, then gross goals, then coin toss. Quarterfinal winners will advance to the USPA Gold Cup semifinals. Semifinal pairings will be decided by draw and winners will advance to the C.V. Whitney Cup final.
The three teams that do not advance to the USPA Gold Cup quarterfinals will move on to the
Bennie Gutierrez Memorial Cup. The best record among these teams will have a bye to the final (if teams are tied with the best record, they will draw for the bye), otherwise the playoff matchup will be determined by draw.
GAUNTLET OF POLO®
Each team has submitted a deposit and intends to compete in all three Gauntlet of Polo tournaments.
GAUNTLET OF POLO®
The National Polo Center – Wellington (NPC) is located in the heart of South Florida’s legendary horse country. The perpetual home for polo in America, NPC is owned and managed by the United States Polo Association to showcase the finest the sport has to offer. The Association’s premiere event, the Gauntlet of Polo®, takes place from February to April each winter season showcasing the world’s preeminent teams, professional athletes and finest horses which come together for three months to battle head-to-head for the coveted C.V. Whitney Cup®, USPA Gold Cup® and U.S. Open Polo Championship® trophies. Throughout the year, the facilities are also used to showcase USPA Member Clubs and prestigious national tournament competition.
The entrance to the club is via a palm tree-lined drive, that leads past tennis courts to the steps of the magnificent pool and Mallet Grille. The natural Florida terrain is augmented by a large lake, lush tropical landscaping and some of the most carefully manicured polo fields in the world. Spectating from the stadium, private boxes, fieldside tailgates and special hospitality tents, all overlooking the U.S. Polo Assn. Field, is an unparalleled experience.
NPC invites you to experience the best polo in the country, taking place at one of the most beautiful venues in the world, the National Polo Center – Wellington.
Effective Date: Saturday, May 16, 2020
The suspension of USPA Tournaments and Events will be lifted for USPA Member Clubs in locales where hosting polo matches and tournaments is permitted under applicable state and local laws, executive orders and similar decrees. The USPA Member Clubs in these locales are encouraged to follow all such requirements of their state and local authorities with respect to polo operations. In addition, we also encourage all USPA Member Clubs to take the precautions recommended by the CDC. We are preparing a detailed list of best practices for USPA Member Clubs as they return to hosting USPA Tournaments and Events and plan to circulate these guidelines within the next week. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely and will notify you if we determine a different course of action is necessary.
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