Catching up: The godfather of the Detroit Polo Club, Merle Jenkins and his long-suffering wife, Vera, spent the summer back in Michigan at Detroit Polo Club, along with 20 + horses and three polo playing grandsons – Colin McCosh, Jeremy Jenkins and Stephen Jenkins.

Pee wee polo starts up again in September in Aiken, and Tess Pimsner and Maggie Boyle have been practicing with the big kids over the summer, look out Ladies tournament!

Tom and Deb Thayer have had a spectacular foaling season with many new additions to the future string of sale ponies with their first crop of “Zip Zip” foals. At last Deb may get some sleep!

Hey Britney! If you haven’t checked out Britney Spears’ newest music video, head over to YouTube on the double and check it out! “Radar” features polo at Pat Nesbitt’s Bella Vista Polo Club in Santa Barbara, and some familiar faces pop up throughout the video. Jason Crowder, Pat Nesbitt, Mariano Fessetta and others are in the video. But the real star is Mariano Gutierrez, playing a heartthrob Argentine player who catches Britney’s eye. Mariano smolders in this video – it’s no wonder he was selected! Congrats to all who appeared, and to Steve Crowder, who was involved with organizing the polo and talent for the video!

11 year old Jonathon Gracida, son of Gabriel and Yvette Gracida, played in his first polo match with adults at Prestonwood Polo Club at the spring Season finale July 11th. Not only did he also experience his first win playing on team with his dad, but he also scored the first goal for his team! Way to go, Jonathon! He could be the next 10 goal Gracida, who knows?

Lesley Fong-Yee says they lost their famous Sweet Boy at 29. He played chukkers up until late last year when he developed a bad infection in his hoof that never completely cleared up. “We bred him and dad played him for most of his career, when we didn’t have visitors or professionals visiting,” Lesley says. “A freak of nature, he was one of the top ponies the Island ever produced – double chukkered from 4 years old to about 18 when I took pity and restricted him to 1 chukka, finally taking him out of tournament polo in his mid-20s – still sound as a bell and I can only recall him missing one or two matches to sore feet because his shoes had been dragged off when he bolted 3 miles on the asphalt highway with some hapless groom85”

What’s Shakin’ in Aiken? Find out FAST on ecalendaraiken.com. Finally a website that can track Aiken area equestrian events online and in real time. Post any equestrian event, clinic, lecture, fund raiser, etc, FREE OF CHARGE! So, as you plan your 2010 events, be sure to email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we’ll post them on ecalendaraiken.com!

Karen Reese’s “Sweetwater” cabin at Lake Murray has been hopping with polo visitors over the summer, Ashley Ragucci, Mark, Haley, Wesley and Malia Bryan and Wesley Findlayson, Samantha Charles and requisite entourage, Billy and Michelle Raab, Tom and Deb Thayer, Erica Stratz and several others have all made boating and fun in the sun a close second to polo in the summertime fun category!

Club News: 2009 Detroit Polo Club president, George Kuper, and his wife, Danielle (also a polo player) are leading the DPC to an active and fun social season and a well organized match schedule. Quite a number of UM and MSU Polo Team members are working and playing at the DPC this summer. They are all welcome additions to the club and bring a lot of talent, fun & enthusiasm. Tania Evans, Editor of Great Lakes Horse Sports, and her daughter (UM Polo Team member), Olivia Fajen, have been playing with UM members Julia Schroeder & Caleb Smith. Sande Weiler has officially retired from active play but is still hanging about the polo grounds.

In June, members of the Oakdale Polo Club in Oakdale, California attended a Polo Training Foundation (PTF) clinic instructed by Wilbur O’Ferrall. Wilbur helped members learn and transition from lecture, to foot mallet work, to horse care and protection, practicing on mounts, and ending with a practice chukker. The PTF clinic provided and motivated members numerous ways to improve polo skills. The Oakdale Polo Club’s experience with the PTC clinic was outstanding and the club has already requested to have another PTF clinic in the future.
302 Polo hosted the finals of the USPA Aiken Ladies Invitational and Campbell Cup at Meadow Hill. All the proceeds from the event benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation. 302 will also be hosting the high goal series of Aiken featuring the USPA Monty Waterbury and the USPA Silver Cup with finals at New Bridge Polo and CC for both events on October 4 for the Waterbury and October 18 for the Silver Cup. Tickets are available beginning the first of October at http://www.302polo.com or call 803-642-8780 to request an invite to any event.

It’s official- the next WCT qualifier will be held Oct. 1 at Prestonwood Polo Club! There will be a pre event gala the week before and lots of gifts from sponsors for participants. Sunny Hale will also be holding a polo clinic and the first two sign-ups are Dena and Vaughn Sebastian Miller. Anyone wanting to participate in the clinic, tournament or sponsor can e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for information.

Down in Jamaica, Leslie Fong-Yee says The Senior Cup is over 100 years old – the actual trophy and the open tournament between the best teams from each Club. This year Kingston Polo Club took back the trophy and they raised about $150,000 for the cancer society.

Wedding Bells: Paul Wheaton has married Emmalyn Partlow and the happy couple is making their summer home in Michigan. Somehow or other Paul has convinced Emmalyn to do half of his job as Detroit Polo Club Manager.

Keep in touch! Asides wants you polo news and photos. Send us trophy and action shots, at 200 dpi, with everyone in the photo clearly identified in the body of the e-mail. Share your news with either Sam at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Be sure to include your full name in the e-mail! We’d love to hear about marriages, engagements, tournaments, new ponies, puppies and personal adventures and triumphs. If you don’t tell us, we can’t share the fun!

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