NEWS

A 12- to 16-goal national tournament, this year, the United States Arena Handicap was hosted on the west coast by California Polo Club in Los Angeles, California. Played as a subsidiary tournament to the U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship, all teams competed in a single elimination semifinal match, including one round robin, with the winners advancing to the final contest. A busy week of arena polo began with nine teams competing for the U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship title, presented by U.S. Polo Assn. Five teams entered the United States Arena Handicap after quarterfinal play to compete for $15,000 in prize money, with $7,500 awarded to the first-place winners.

On Saturday, December 16, Prestonwood/Broken Taco (Vance Miller III, Andrew Scott, Vaughn Miller Jr.) took on Bush League (Ulysses Escapite, Virgil Kyle IV, Pelon Escapite) in the United States Arena Handicap final. After a suspenseful second half, Prestonwood/Broken Taco ultimately emerged the victor, 14-12, to take home the 2023 title.

In the first few minutes of play, Prestonwood/Broken Taco began an early lead with four goals off the mallet of Vaughn Miller Jr. and two goals awarded on handicap, putting six on the scoreboard to Bush League’s three heading into chukker two. Despite a series of goals from Pelon Escapite in the second, Vaughn Miller Jr. scored two more before the end of the first half to maintain Prestonwood/Broken Taco’s lead, now only a one-goal advantage 8-7.

Maintaining the lead throughout the game was no small feat for Prestonwood/Broken Taco considering their Bush League opponents boasted the highest-rated player in the arena, Pelon Escapite, holding an 8-goal handicap. However, Scott and the Miller brothers are no strangers to the arena; in April, the three represented the University of North Texas (UNT) in the 2023 Division I Men’s National Intercollegiate Championship, winning 14-9 against the University of Virginia. “For our college nationals, we practiced for a couple months and just dedicated practice to win that,” told Scott. Still, collegiate polo presents different challenges than the ones Prestonwood/Broken Taco faced in California Polo Club’s arena on Saturday afternoon. “Here you've got bonafide superstars that make a living playing polo—it's tough being in the arena with that caliber of players,” told Miller Jr. “But I think you can look at the scores and they show that we were meant to be here too.”

Back in the arena for the second half, Miller Jr. and Scott stepped up the attack and sunk three more goals for Prestonwood/Broken Taco, but the Escapite brothers were not far behind. Ulysses Escapite knocked in two of his own, followed by brother Pelon. Heading into the fourth and final chukker, Prestonwood/Broken Taco lead by one 11-10. In the tense final seconds, it was Scott’s horse that managed to knock in the game’s final pony goal, solidifying Prestonwood/Broken Taco’s win 14-12.

Scott was named Most Valuable Player of the game. “For me, Andrew Scott came alive in the fourth chukker right when we needed him, which is why he won MVP,” recalled teammate Miller Jr. “Vance and I tied up Ulysses and Pelon and he would find the ball and get it right in the goal. He scored a goal and put us up by two with less than a minute left. He came alive in the fourth chukker with the game on the line.”

“I'm very honored to get this award—I'm kind of surprised I got it!” the MVP said. “I think Vaughn played better the whole game, to be honest. But I'm grateful for the award.” Unlike the intercollegiate championship, Scott had less advanced notice ahead of Saturday’s final. “Coming out here we were a little bit cold, but we all got together and did some practices beforehand and were able to come out and pick up where we left off.”

While some players were able to bring their own strings, many relied on local horse providers for mounts, including Scott. “I really enjoyed getting to win a lot of ride-offs against Pelon and Ulysses since I was riding their horses—they helped mount me for the game because I didn't bring mine from Aiken [South Carolina].”

Miller Jr. played a mixed string, using both his own horses as well as rentals from George Dill, including Best Playing Pony Zambezi. “Zambezi was really nice—he [George Dill] told us that would be the best one.” Miller Jr. played the black mare in the first and third chukkers. “She’s really handy and powerful. She wanted to win bumps in the arena and did everything I asked of her.”

Prestonwood/Broken Taco received $7,500 in prize money for first place, but Bush League did not leave empty-handed with $5,000 for second. In the Bronze Medal Match to take home third, Denver Polo Club (Brian Salmon, Erica Gandomcar-Sachs, Tommy Biddle Jr.) bested Equus Hotel Waikiki (Devon Dailey*, Dewitt “Hobbs” Weymouth, Garret Bankhead) claiming their $2,500 prize. The only woman competing in the series, Gandomcar-Sachs was presented with the Sportsmanship Award for her exceptional display of athletic conduct and general goodwill towards her teammates and fellow competitors.

Scott and the Millers celebrated their victory surrounded by friends, family and supporters under a stream of confetti, trophies in hand. “Some of the best arena players in the world entered into this tournament,” said Miller Jr. “Overall, it was a blast. We wanted to win the Open, but this is great—we're very happy, it’s an amazing feeling.”

The United States Arena Handicap Final is available On-Demand.

*Devon Dailey is Team USPA alumnus. Team USPA is a USPA program designed to enhance and grow the sport of polo in the United States by identifying young, talented American players and providing mentored training and playing opportunities leading to a pool of higher rated amateur and pro players and the resultant giveback to the sport of polo.

All photos courtesy of ©Tequila Sunsets Photography.