Dan's Papers - August 15, 2008

Even though the rain washed out the polo field at the Bridgehampton Polo Club two weeks ago, the "show" went on.

With Jimmy Choo heels sinking into the mud, scantily clad ladies walked the grass as if it were a red carpet. And with a DJ spinning the latest hits in a nearby booth and waiters doling out glasses of champagne, the glamorous guests seemed to have forgotten that there were pastures filled with manure about 100 feet away. About 200 attendees turned up to enjoy the 'cancelled' polo match, with one thing on their minds: partying.

"It would be great if we could get more people to focus on the game," said John Gruen of Gruen Eyes, who has teamed up with TagHeuer for their new eyewear collection. But judging by the floating UFO-sized hats and fitted peacock dresses, polo is not the only reason to visit Two Trees Stables on a Saturday afternoon. "It's an opportunity to wear something from the closet that you wouldn't normally wear," said Joan Gruen.

And wear they shall. With the hopes of being spotted by polo regulars like Steven Spielberg, Aretha Franklin and Paris Hilton, guests dare to be different. "The people who attend this event are on the evolution of style," said Cragin Brown, a representative for Strategic Group and event organizer.

And it's not all about indulging in your closet - it's also about adding to it. With vendors like Ralph Lauren, Gruen Eyes and Mercedes Benz flaunting their merchandise, you can exit onto Hayground Road with a new set of threads, specs and wheels. Brown said that, "For a lot of people, the party and the atmosphere are more important to them than the polo." A fact confirmed when many guests, upon being asked about their stance on the sport, replied with, "To be honest, I don't really know anything about polo." Standing in the middle of a horse field with Nacho Figueras, possibly the best polo player in the world today, standing a few feet away, one cannot help but see the irony.

So, for those who don't know anything about polo and those who sit in the bleachers to root for a favorite team, here is some information about the current polo season.

There are seven polo teams competing in the Mercedes-Benz polo challenge: White Birch, Black Watch, Equuleus, Mansour, Pony Express, Heathcote and Jumerirah Culu Culu. White Birch, after winning all three of their games, nailed their spot in the finals, which took place on August 13. The Black Watch team competed against Mansour this past Monday. There was some concern that newcomer Mansour might upset Black Watch's success. However, this concern was thwarted once Black Watch won the semi-finals and secured their position in the finals against White Birch.

While the season has showcased a good deal of exciting games, it has also exposed some new talent. Facundo Pieres and Mariano Aguerre have displayed intimidating skill along with Nick Roldan of Pony Express. Adam Snow of Mansour and Lucas Monteverde of Heathcote Farm have also exploded onto the polo field. And, of course, Figueras continues to amaze spectators and fellow players alike with his skills on the polo field. "Polo played at this level educates the people who come to the game," said Figueras, acknowledging that maybe people should keep their eyes more on the ball than that shiny new Mercedes.

But with the 114-acre Two Tress Farm recently placed on the market for $95 million, there is some concern that the Bridgehampton Polo Club will lose its home base. David Walentas, the current owner of the farm, received approval from the Southampton Town Planning Board to subdivide the property into 19 lots. If Walentas follows through with his subdivision, the town will not allow public polo matches at the farm site.

The property consists of two houses, an eight-unit apartment building, two indoor riding arenas, three barns, two polo fields and a tennis court. Tim Davis, a senior managing director at the Corcoran Group's Southampton office, said that Walentas is not planning on completing the subdivision and does not want to sell the lots individually. As a frequent competitor at the matches held at the farm, Walentas wants to keep the polo field active. However, comparing mallet with wallet, he has left polo fans wondering which will prevail.

For fans of polo, no more games would be upsetting. But the many who attend for other reasons will be happy to see the show go on, with or without the ponies.