Sunday, February 16th, 2020 | Empire Polo Club
General George Patton 4- and 8-Goal Results and Standings

At the end of the first week of these two-week tournaments the team standings are as follows:

8-Goal:

Win=2, Bye=1, Loss=0. Two teams with the most points go to finals February 23.

1 win, 1 bye=3
Empire (Rob Scapa 0, Robert Payne II 3, Rob Payne III 3, Russell Stimmel 2)

1 win, 1 loss=2
Evergreen (Tom Sprung -1, Carlos Galindo 2, Carlitos Galindo 4, Juan Jo Gonzalez 3)

1 win, 1 loss=2
Spindrift (Torrey Ripinsky 0, John Bickford 1, Jason Crowder 6, Catlin Dix 0)

1 win, 1 loss=2
Santa Ynez (Gina Padilla -1, Mariano Gracida 4, Julio Gracida 4, Meghan Gracida 0)

1 loss, 1 bye=1
Ridgway Hemp (Beau Staley -1, Agustin Bottaro 0, Dayelle Fargey 1, Memo Gracida 5)

4-goal Win-loss

2-0 Zahedi Chogan
(Sy Zahedi -1, Meghan Gracida 0, Dayelle Fargey 1.5, Francisco Guinazu 3)

2-0 Grand Prairie
(Ross Adams 0, Cheryl Schindel -.5, Garret Smith 1.5, Joe Henderson 3)

1-1 Lockton
(Tim Kelly 0, Audrey Persano .5, Luis Saracco 3, Chino Payan .5)

1-1 Hanalei Bay
(Krista Bonaguidi -1, Alejandro Gonzalez 3, Taylor Freeman 2, Ryan Kerley -.5)

0-2 Granite Bay/Archangel
(Eric Hammon 0, German Coppel 0, Ashton Wolf 3, Alonso Andrade 1)

0-2 Zephyr
(Elizabeth Humphreys -.5, Lesley Tims -.5, Valentino Echezarreta 2, Ignacio Saenz 3)

Sunday’s matches were fast and furious, in front of a full house on a gorgeous, sunny desert day!

In the 8-Goal Patton Cup, Spindrift went to battle against Santa Ynez. Julio Gracida scored 2 penalty shots to start off the scoring for Santa Ynez. Torrey Ripinsky knocked one in for Spindrift, ending the first time period with Santa Ynez in front 2 to 1. Julio converted 2 more penalty shots in the second chukker. Catlin Dix, Torrey Ripinsky, and Jason Crowder each scored once for Spindrift. Add two penalty 1 fouls that were awarded to Spindrift, and chukker two ended 6 to 4. Chukker three started off with a bang, as Julio grabbed the ball out of the mouth of the goal, ran the length of the field and pegged a neck shot through the posts to dazzle the crowd. Ripinsky scored his third of the day, ending the first half with Spindrift leading 7 to 5. Mariano started the second half with a goal for Santa Ynez. Catlin Dix took out an opponent, clearing the way for Jason Crowder to score for Spindrift. Julio converted two penalty shots, and the fourth chukker ended in a tie, 8 to 8. Spindrift picked up the pace in the fifth chukker, scoring three unanswered goals to take the lead, 11 to 8. In the sixth chukker, Julio Gracida’s penalty 4 shot went airborne, flying high to add one for Santa Ynez. John Bickford, who had many long carries throughout the game, put one through the posts to put Spindrift up by 3. Ripinsky made his fifth goal of the day, and as the time ran out, Spindrift’s Julio Gracida pegged a penalty 2, (his 9^th goal of the day). As the final horn sounded, it was Spindrift that headed to the winner’s circle, with a final score of 13 to 10.

Teams Zephyr and Zahedi Chogan put on a crowd-pleasing show in the 4-Goal match. Sy Zahedi was the first to score, followed by teammate Francisco Guinazu, ending chukker one with Zahedi Chogan in the lead, 2.5(+.5 by handicap) to 0. Dayelle Fargey’s goal made it 3.5 to 0. Ignacio Saenz joined the scoring, putting 1 point for Zephyr on the board. Guinazu also scored and the second time period ended 4.5 to 1. Ignacio came alive in the third chukker, putting 3 unanswered points on the board for Zephyr. That ended the first half with the close score of 4.5 to 4, a half point advantage to Zahedi Chogan. Scoring went back and forth in chukker four which ended with Zahedi Chogan ahead, 7.5 to 6. Fargey increased the lead to 8.5 to 6 early in the fifth and last chukker. Tension mounted as Zephyr came close, with Ignacio converting two penalty 2 shots, but Zahedi Chogan persevered, winning by a nose, 8.5 to 8.

February 14th, 2020
Debii $$ Conant Ladies Tournament
Empire Polo Club

Empire Polo Club’s Friday Night Polo Under the Lights” was a Valentine’s Day celebration, on a gorgeous evening, with fabulous polo entertainment. Polo Pro, Mike Conant, founded the Debii Dollar Memorial Tournament competition for his late wife, Debii Dollar Conant (1950-1989). Debii was a tough competitor credited with advancing and promoting polo for women. Women were allowed to compete in USPA polo in 1972.

Finalists Parker Polo (Grace Parker 1, Carly Persano 3, Audrey Persano 4, Madelyn Cobb 4), and Palomar Pools (Elise Pardue 2, Cybel Jordan 3, Karen Reese 5, Bonnie Magill 2) met at the line-up under the lights. The scoring started with a converted penalty 2 shot by Karen Reese. Grace Parker answer with a scoring run and the first chukker ended in a tie, 1 to 1. Parker Pool outscored the Palomar Pool team in the second chukker, and the ladies went to half time with Parker Pool leading 4 to 2. Bonnie Magill got loose in the third chukker and scored for Palomar Pools. Parker Polo added one to the score board making it a 5 to 3 game. The fourth and final chukker continued to be a close, hard-fought match with both teams scoring once. The Parker Pool team was triumphant, with a final score of 6 to 4.

Susan Guggenheim was chosen as the Inaugural recipient of the Women’s Longevity Award. Susan became a USPA member in 1985, and is an active sponsor and player. Her team, Ponytail Polo, has competed in the Debii Dollar Polo Tournament for over 10 years. This new, perpetual award was given by Tania Paneno and Lynni Hutton in Memory and in honor of our dear friend, Kit Neacy, who passed away on February 2, 2020. She will be remembered for her passion for polo and her horses, her competitive nature, and her comradery with polo teammates. Kit began playing polo in the early 1980s, joined the USPA in 1983, and remained a player until last April.

Bonnie Magill was honored as the recipient of the Dorrie Forstmann Sportsmanship Award. Bonnie is an inspiration to everyone around her. After the tragic loss of her daughter, Margery, last August, she has not only rallied, but has thrown herself into her passion for polo. Helping the kid’s polo program here in the desert, teaching riding, announcing, timing, scoring and umpiring polo games are ways that Bonnie exhibits her enthusiasm and love of polo, horses and people. Bonnie is a competitive force to be reckoned with on the field, as a passionate player that continues to play actively in Empire’s 1-Goal league this year. Dorrie Forstmann (1947-2015), took up polo in 1985, and was a top female player and patron in the country. She played passionately with her team, Risky Business, until her catastrophic accident in 2002, which left unable to walk. Her strength and willpower were an inspiration to all.
Congratulations LADIES!!!!

8-Goal USPA National President’s Cup
4-Goal USPA National Amateur Cup
Empire Polo Club | Feb. 9th, 2020
Sunday Polo Presented by The United State Polo Association (USPA)

After two weeks of competition in the USPA 8-Goal President’s Cup, the finalists were Evergreen (Tom Sprung -1, Carlos Galindo 2, Carlitos Galindo 4, Juan Jo Gonzalez 3), and Empire (Rob Scapa 0, Robert Payne II 3, Rob Payne III 3, Russell Stimmel 2).

Evergreen’s Carlos Galindo started the scoring with a converted penalty 2. Empire fired back with Rob Scapa, Rob Payne, and Robert Payne all contributing a goal for Empire, ending the first chukker with Empire leading 3 to 1. Scoring went back and forth in chukker two. Robert Payne scored twice for Empire. Juan Jo Gonzalez and Carlitos Galindo each put a point on the board for Evergreen. Empire pulled ahead in the third time period with Stimmel’s two successful penalty shots, and Rob Payne scoring twice. Carlos Galindo pegged a penalty 3 conversion for Evergreen and the teams went to half-time with Empire leading, 9 to 4. Rob Scapa’s neck-shot sailed through the posts in the fourth chukker, and was answered by Carlos and Carlitos scoring for Evergreen. Evergreen closed the lead slightly, but the chukker ended with Empire ahead, 10 to 6. In chukker 5, Evergreen’s Carlos Galindo converted a penalty 3 and a penalty 2. Russel Stimmel came back with successful penalty 3 and penalty 4 goals. Add Rob Payne’s score and the fifth chukker ended with Empire leading 13 to 8. In the sixth chukker, Juan Jo Gonzalez made his way through a crowded goal mouth for an Evergreen goal. Carlos Galindo hit two booming shots through the posts, making him the high scorer of the game with a total of 7 goals. Rob Payne scored Empire’s only goal in the last chukker, which ended with Empire victorious, 14 to 11.

The final match of the USPA 4-Goal Amateur Cup pitted Zahedi Chogan (Sy Zahedi -1, Meghan Gracida 0, Dayelle Fargey 1.5, Francisco Guinazu 3), against Hanalei Bay (Krista Bonaguidi -1, Alejandro Gonzalez 3, Taylor Freeman 2, Ryan Kerley -.5). The crowd was dazzled, as the lead changed each chukker. Zahedi Chogan’s Francisco Guinazu and Hanalei Bay’s Alejandro Gonzalez each scored twice to start off the game. Zahedi Chogan was awarded a .5 advantage by handicap, which put them up at the end of the first chukker 2.5 to 2. Guinazu made the only goal for Zahedi Chogan in the second time period. Hanalei Bay’s Gonzalez sent two through the posts, putting Hanalei Bay ahead at the end of chukker two, 4 to 3.5. Guinazu came out running in the third chukker with a penalty 3 conversion, and a powerful shot through the posts. Zahedi Chogan battled back with a team effort, as each team member on the Zahedi Chogan team scored a goal, putting Zahedi Chogan back in front by 1.5 points. Taylor Freeman joined the scoring for Hanalei Bay making 2 goals, and ending the first half with Hanalei Bay back on top with a narrow lead of 8 to 7.5. The fourth chukker started with Dayelle Fargey, a fierce competitor all day, putting Zahedi Chogan back in front by a half point with her second goal of the game. Then Hanalei Bay’s Krista Bonaguidi got loose for a long scoring run which gave Hanalei Bay the lead by a half point. Zahedi Chogan’s Guinazu rallied, scoring once from the field and twice from the penalty line, ending the fourth chukker with Zahedi Chogan back on top 11.5 to 9. In the fifth and last chukker of the match, Hanalei Bay won the game from the penalty line with Gonzalez scoring three penalty shots, and Krista Bonaguidi converting a penalty 2. Hanalei Bay took home the silver with a winning score of Hanalei Bay 13 to Zahedi Chogan 11.5.

General Admission/Parking/Tailgating

Admission and parking are free on Friday nights.  NO VIP seating for Friday night games.

2020 Friday “Polo Under the Lights” Schedule

Feb. 21st – 5:30pm
March 13th – 6:30pm
March 27th – 6:30pm

• Outside food and beverages are allowed
• Beverage service is available for purchase
• Bring chairs and blankets
• Tailgating spots are available on a first come, first served basis
• Permanent restrooms are available at the field
• All dogs must be kept on a leash at all times.
• NO RVs
• No grilling or cooking
• No open flames
• No propane tanks
• No generators
• Tailgate spots are for non-business use only
• The sale of food, drink, merchandise, and/or services is strictly prohibited

Empire Polo Club is located at 81-800 Ave. 51, Indio, CA  92201. Click here for a map.

To access the Friday night games enter the Empire Polo Club from Ave. 50 or from Monroe St. between Ave. 50 and Ave. 51.  The Friday night game is held on field #3.  Click here for directions and a map. 

8-Goal USPA President’s Cup and
4-Goal USPA Amateur Cup at
Empire Polo Club | Feb. 2nd, 2020
Sunday Polo Presented by Tito’s Handmade Vodka

At the end of the first week of these two-week tournaments the team standings are as follows:

8-Goal Win-loss
2-0 Evergreen (Tom Sprung -1, Carlos Galindo 2, Carlitos Galindo 4, Juan Jo Gonzalez 3)
1-1 Santa Ynez (Gina Padilla -1, Mariano Gracida 4, Julio Gracida 4, Meghan Gracida 0)
1-1 Empire (Rob Scapa 0, Robert Payne II 3, Rob Payne III 3, Russell Stimmel 2)
0 -1 Ridgway Hemp (Beau Staley -1, Agustin Bottaro 0, Dayelle Fargey 1, Memo Gracida 5)
0-1 forfeit Spindrift (Torrey Ripinsky 0, John Bickford 1, Jason Crowder 6, Catlin Dix 0)

4-goal Win-loss
3-0 Zahedi Chogan (Sy Zahedi -1, Meghan Gracida 0, Dayelle Fargey 1.5, Francisco Guinazu 3)
2-0 Hanalei Bay (Krista Bonaguidi -1, Alejandro Gonzalez 3, Taylor Freeman 2, Ryan Kerley -.5)
1-2 Grand Prairie (Ross Adams 0, Cheryl Schindel -.5, Garret Smith 1.5, Joe Henderson 3)
0-2Granite Bay/Archangel (Eric Hammon 0,German Coppel 0, Ashton Wolf 3,Alonso Andrade 1)
0-2 Lockton ( Tim Kelly 0, Audrey Persano .5, Luis Saracco 3, Chino Payan .5)

On Sunday’s field 1, in the 8-Goal President’s Cup competition, it was Santa Ynez that overpowered the Empire team. Santa Ynez began the game with 1 point advantage by handicap. Julio Gracida scored all 4 points in the first half from the penalty line for Santa Ynez. The trend continued in the fourth chukker with Julio scoring 2 penalty shots and Russell Stimmel scoring a penalty 2 for Empire, ending the fourth time period 7 to 1. In the fifth chukker Julio scored 2 goals from the field and a successful penalty 3 shot. Stimmel scored another penalty shot and had a nice run to score another goal, followed by Robert Payne’s penalty shot conversion, putting 3 points on the board for Empire. Mariano Gracida put one through the posts for Santa Ynez, which increased the Santa Ynez team’s lead, 11 to 4 at the end of the fifth time period. In the last chukker, Meghan Gracida had two lovely carries through the goal that added 2 goals, and the last score was another penalty shot conversion by Mariano. The final score was 14 to 4.

Outcome of other 8 Goal President Cup competition this week:

• Empire out-scored Ridgway Hemp, 10 to 8.
• Evergreen won against Santa Ynez in overtime, final score was 12 to 11.
• Evergreen came out ahead of Spindrift with an 11 to 10 victory in overtime, but the game was technically a forfeit by Spindrift, due to non-payment of player’s 2020 USPA dues.

Sunday’s 4-goal Amateur Cup tournament on field 1 was between Hanalei Bay and Grand Prairie Buffaloes. Alejandro Gonzalez started the scoring with 2 points on the board for Hanalei Bay in the first chukker. In the second time period Taylor Freeman sent a penalty 2 shot through the posts for Hanalei Bay. Garrett Smith answered back for the Buffaloes with two successful penalty 2 shots. Joe Henderson fired away to score for also, and the second time period ended with a tie score of 3 to 3. Hanalei Bay controlled the third chukker, scoring four goals. Cheryl Schindel carried the ball through the goal to add one for the Grand Prairie Buffaloes and teams went to half time with Hanalei Bay leading 7 to 4. The Buffaloes were unable to score in the fourth chukker, while Hanalei Bay added three more goals. The fifth and last chukker started with a 10 to 4 score. Joe Henderson turned on the after burners for a big run and goal, which ended the game with a 10 to 5 win by Hanalei Bay.

In other 4 Goal, Amateur Cup competition this week:

Zahedi Chogan beat Granite Bay/Archangel, 8.5 to 5.

Grand Prairie Buffaloes were victorious over Granite Bay/Archangel 8 to 5.

Zahedi Chogan won against Granite Bay, 8.5 to 5.

Hanalei Bay outscored Lockton by one, 8 to 7.

Zahedi Chogan came out ahead of Grand Prairie Buffaloes, 9.5 to 6.

The Finals for both tournaments will be on Sunday, February 9^th. See you there!