Thursday, March 12, 2020:  California and Riverside County Public Health Officials, following the guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control, have determined that gatherings of more than 250 people should be postponed or canceled across the state to limit the spread of COVID-19, the coronavirus.  As a result, to assist in doing our part to control this virus, Empire Polo Club is cancelling Sunday Polo and the Friday night “Polo Under the Lights” for the remainder of the polo season.  We deeply regret having to take this unprecedented action, but the safety and well-being of our members, spectators, staff, polo players and community are of the utmost importance to Empire Polo Club. We appreciate and thank you for your support and look forward to seeing you when we resume our regular schedule of events in the 2021 season.

4-Goal Congressional Cup Finals
March 15th, 2020

Sunday afternoon’s 4-Goal Congressional Cup was between Zahedi Chogan (Sy Zahedi -1, Meghan Gracida 0, Russel Stimmel 2, Francisco Guinazu 3) and Luna Polo (Jennifer Alexy 0, Alexis Payan 0, Diego Llaregli 3, Bauti VonWernich 1).

The score was low and the defense high in this 4-Goal Congressional Cup match. Diego Llaregli put the first point on the board for Luna Polo. Jennifer Alexy added a second goal for Luna polo, and the first chukker ended 2 to 0. The second time period was full of great plays and big runs, but neither team scored. The teams went to half-time with Luna Polo ahead, 2 to 0. While Zahedi Chogan was still unable to make a goal in the third chukker, Luna Polo’s Jennifer Alexy scored again, and widened their lead to 3 to 0. Russel Stimmel converted a penalty 3 in the fourth chukker for Zahedi Chogan. The star of the day was Jennifer Alexy, who had a great carry over half of the polo field to make the final goal of the game, (her third). At the final horn, it was Luna Polo’s victory, with the score of 4 to 1.

Empire Polo Club has cancelled the Friday night “Polo Under the Lights” game on Friday, March 13th due to weather.

Sunday Polo is still scheduled for the 15th and is not affected by the weather at this time.

March 1, 2020 | Empire Polo Club
8-Goal USPA Congressional Cup Finals
4-Goal Congressional Cup Results

 In Sunday’s Congressional Cup Finals, Ridgway Hemp (Beau Staley -1, Agustin Bottaro 0, Memo Gracida 5, Alonso Andrade 1) faced Evergreen (Tom Sprung -1, Carlos Galindo 2, Carlitos Galindo 4, Nick Cifuni 3).

Nick Cifuni scored Evergreen’s first goal, followed by Ridgway Hemp’s score by Memo Gracida, which ended the first chukker with teams tied, 1 to 1. In spite of several long runs and big hits, the defense was so strong that chukker two was scoreless for both teams. Play intensified in the third time period. Carlitos Galindo pegged both of his penalty 3 shots and hit an amazing 70-yard missile, that soared high above and between the posts. Alonso Andrade carried the ball through heavy Evergreen traffic, and Memo tapped it in for Ridgway Hemp. The teams went to half time with Evergreen leading, 4 to 2. In the fourth time period Memo and Carlitos each converted a penalty 4, keeping the game close with the score 5 to 3. The momentum switched in the fifth chukker, as Ridgway Hemp’s Memo Gracida came out racing on “Ballet” and racked up 3 points, earning her the title of best playing pony. Nick Cifuni scored a penalty 3 for Evergreen. Alonso Andrade added one, and that put Ridgway Hemp in the lead by one at the end of the fifth chukker, 7 to 6. Memo started the final chukker’s scoring with a converted penalty 2, and one of his classic walk-the-ball through the goal, moving the scoreboard to a 9 to 6 ball game. Ridgway Hemp added two more goals, and Carlos Galindo added one for Evergreen. At the final bell, it was Ridgway Hemp celebrating a victory with a final score of 11 to 7.

The four-Goal Congressional Cup has six teams competing until March 15, when the top two teams will meet for the finals. The teams that drew to play in this Sunday’s match were Granite Bay/S4K (Jay Garnett -.5, Eric Hammon 0, Jim Wright 3, Topo Mendez 1.5) and Luna Polo (Jennifer Alexy 0, Alexis Payan 0, Bautista Von Wernich 1, Diego Larregli 3).

The first to score was Jim Wright for Granite Bay/S4K. Luna Polo fired back with Alexis Payan, Bautista Von Wernich, and Diego Larregli each contributing one goal, ending the first time period with Luna Polo in the lead, 3 to 1. Granite Bay out-scored Luna Polo in the second chukker adding two points to Luna Polo’s one. The teams went to half-time with the advantage to Luna Polo, 4 to 3. Alexis Payan made two goals in the third chukker for Luna Polo. Jim Wright converted two penalty 3 shots and battled his way to score another, ending the fast and furious chukker with teams tied, 6 to 6. In the fourth and final chukker, Granite Bay/S4K was unable to score, while Luna Polo’s Diego Larregli scored twice. That ended the match with Luna Polo winning, 8 to 6.

February 23^rd , 2020 | Empire Polo Club

USPA General George Patton Tournament Finals
8-Goal and 4-Goal Leagues

The Sunday finals of the General George Patton Cup pitted last year’s winners, Evergreen (Tom Sprung -1, Carlos Galindo 2, Carlitos Galindo 4, Juan Jo Gonzalez 3) against Empire (Rob Scapa 0, Robert Payne II 3, Rob Payne III 3, Russell Stimmel 2). Scapa and the Texans outscored the Evergreen team in the first chukker with Robert Payne and Rob Scapa each putting a point on the board. Carlos Galindo converted a penalty 2 shot, and the first time period ended with Empire leading 2 to 1. After an evenly matched second chukker, the score remained at 2 to 1. Russel Stimmel fired one through the posts for the only goal of the third chukker, ending the first half with Empire out in front, 3 to 1. Empire’s Rob Payne took control to begin the second half, scoring two back to back goals. Rob Scapa followed with a great run to goal for his second goal of the day. Carlitos Galindo sent a scoring bullet through for Evergreen. Stimmel answered for Empire. Carlos Galindo made a penalty 3 for Evergreen, ending the competitive fourth chukker in Empire’s favor, 7 to 3. The momentum continued for the Empire team, scoring the first two goals in the fifth chukker. Carlitos Galindo’s amazing, homegrown thirteen-year old gelding, Kahuna, got loose for a scoring run for Evergreen, and won the honors of Best Playing Pony. Robert Payne added one for Empire, extending their lead, with the score of 9 to 4 at the end of chukker five. Evergreen rallied in the last chukker, scoring two unanswered goals, but it was not enough to catch Empire, who went home victorious with the Roenisch  bronzes, defeating Evergreen 9 to 6.

4-Goal USPA Gen. Patton Tournament

It was Zahedi Chogan (Sy Zahedi -1, Meghan Gracida 0, Dayelle Fargey 1.5, Francisco Guinazu 3) and Grand Prairie Buffaloes (Ross Adams 0, Cheryl Schindel -.5, Garret Smith 1.5, Joe Henderson 3) battling for the bronzes in the General George Patton Cup 4-Goal finals. Dayelle Fargey was the first to score for Zahedi Chogan. Garrett Smith answered for the Buffaloes. Sy Zahedi joined in, adding another goal, ending the first chukker with Zahedi Chogan in the lead, 2.5 to 1. The second time period was dominated by Zahedi Chogan, adding three unanswered points. The trend continued in the third chukker. Meghan Gracida had a nice carry to goal that Francisco tapped in. Then Meghan sent a 40-yard shot through the posts. Dayelle Fargey, who closely marked Big Joe Henderson all day, made a wide-open run to score for Zahedi Chogan. That ended the first half with Zahedi Chogan pulling away, 8.5 to 1. Grand Prairie Buffaloes were unable to score in the fourth time period, while Meghan Gracida and Francisco Guinazu each added a goal for Zahedi Chogan, ending the fourth chukker with the score 10.5 to 1. The Buffaloes rallied in the fifth and last chukker. Garrett Smith scored twice. Ross Adams and Cheryl Schindel scored one apiece. It was a valiant effort, but not enough to catch Zahedi Chogan. As the clock wound down Francisco took a booming 150-yard shot at goal, which was air-born as the horn sounded, and then soared through the posts! Although his megahit was too late to count, the Zahedi Chogan team earned the bronzes, with a triumphant score of 10.5 to 5.