If Pilot Polo Team wins the U.S. Open Polo Championship® on April 21, the team will be the first ever GAUNTLET Champion and receive the 1 Million Dollar Purse. Pilot secured its title as the winner of the USPA Gold Cup® on March 25 with a score of 12-11 over Aspen at the U.S. Polo Assn. Stadium Field at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) in Wellington, Fla. With the latest win from Pilot, the stakes are higher than ever with the potential of a first ever GAUNTLET OF POLO™ champion. The team, winning every game of the first two tournaments, is on its way to be crowned the first ever GAUNTLET Champion. The next chapter will be determined on April 21, after Pilot competes in the U.S. Open Polo Championship®, held March 27 through April 21, 2019.
The inaugural GAUNTLET OF POLO was created to develop a high-stakes polo competition that offers players and fans an exciting three months of the highest level of skilled athletes, equine partners and strategic planning that ends with $1M prize across three tournaments – C.V. Whitney Cup, USPA Gold Cup and the U.S. Open Polo Championship.
For the first time in the sport, the tournament series will include a “Winner Take All” prize money format. Pilot has already secured $125,000 for winning the C.V. Whitney Cup plus $125,000 for winning the USPA Gold Cup. And if they win the U.S. Open Polo Championship they will receive a $250,000 prize, $500,000 bonus and be crowned the GAUNTLET Champion.
“We are thrilled to see a team progress this far in the first-ever GAUNTLET OF POLO. The team is competing for more than just bragging rights, they are competing for $1M and the Gauntlet Champion, polo’s ultimate test. In addition to strategic planning and outstanding athleticism required to win this many games consecutively, the GAUNTLET offers existing and new fans a fun and exciting day of polo. Whether it’s a VIP brunch or “courtside” seats on the stadium side, we have activities for everyone,” said David Cummings, President and CEO, Global Polo Entertainment.
One key differentiation in the GAUNTLET OF POLO is that for the first time in history there are 16 teams (64 players and a minimum of 640 polo horses) playing consistently across all three tournaments. The GAUNTLET also features some of the world’s finest 10 goal players, premier athletes who have a lifetime’s worth of equine and polo achievements that require a level of expertise shared by less than 1 percent of the polo population. This year’s participating 10 goalers are #2 in the world, Facundo Pieres, Polito Pieres, Sapo Caset, Hilario Ulloa, Gonzalito Pieres and Nico Pieres.
All GAUNTLET games will be livestreamed on USPA Polo Network or live-streamed on the U.S. Polo Network YouTube channel each week with the final event airing on CBS Sports, April 28 at 2 PM EDT.
by United States Polo Association
