San Diego

Opening Day at SDPC

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The place to be on Sunday afternoon was the San Diego Polo Club in Rancho Santa Fe.  With perfect weather, gorgeous people, and majestic horses playing polo, there was no other way to spend the day.   The San Diego Polo Club had their most successful day in 26 years with a record breaking attendance of 2,000.

Riviera Magazine sponsored the event, along with BMW of San Diego and Mini of San Diego.  Riviera’s publisher, Jessica Cline, was our guest of honor and presented Hermes trophies to the winners, compliments of Neiman Marcus.

The San Diego Polo Club debuted their first fashion show, with dresses by Poppy, shoes by Shoes Me, accessories by Nomadic Fashion and shades from Raen Optics.  Corals and blues are the color of summer.  Fashionista, Michelle Guerin of the San Diego Union Tribune said it best in her recent article, this season offers a kaleidoscope of prints and pops of color.

The Feature Match between Jetsuite/Monteverde and Starmeadow/Adeptus was a riveting one.  Both teams were neck and neck throughout all six chukkers with Mariano Gutierrez scoring the winning shot for Jetsuite/Monteverde.

Thank you to everyone who came out for a glorious, sun-filled day of Polo!  Join us this Sunday for our Father’s Day celebration including antique biplanes, cars, and cigars.

Special thanks to Frank Tupas and Dominick Lemarie for photography!

Corporate Event

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We had a blast Friday afternoon playing golf cart polo at the San Diego Polo Club with a group of about 70 people.  The Wild Thyme Company did a fantastic job with the food and presentation, while Zoe Productions helped tie in our Ralph Lauren theme.

Guests had an introduction to polo, followed by golf cart polo and dinner!

Happy Anniversary, Riviera Modern Luxury!

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Neon pink lights, 2 shiny Ferraris and Riviera Magazine hostesses greeted the guests at 7th Anniversary of Riviera Magazine, one of the SD Polo Club‘s favorite media partners!  Held at the Museum of Contemporary Art in charming Little Italy, 2 of the exhibit rooms were open for the guests to peruse.  The main attraction was a vibrant room with animated floral art projected on the walls, created by Jennifer Steinkamp.

Riviera had a DJ spinning electic jams, 3 food stations to reflect the trio of local chefs that make up Campine Catering, and a full bar specializing in craft cocktails.

Neiman Marcus stole the show with a twist on the typical fashion show.  Models showed off the new fall fashions on glowing cubes, slowing circulating all of the season favorites.  We saw a lot of purple and deep red, furs, colored tights, blocked patterns, animal and paisley prints, plus sequins and shine!

Snake Oil Cocktail Company served up an array of elixers, from the sweet, celebratory “Birthday Cake” made with Pink Pigeon Rum, sweet cream and fruit to the refreshing cucumber, gin and ginger cocktail.  Snake Oil is a San Diego based company.  We had the pleasure of meeting the owners at a small farm located just behind the Polo Club.

Campine Catering hosted three food stations spotlighting each chef: Brian Malarky of Burlap and Searsucker, Anthony Splurgin formerly of Waters Catering, and Antonio Friscia of Stingaree.  WOW!  We can’t wait to attend more events with the Campine trio.

Publisher, Jessica Cline, and Marketing Manager, Stefanie Leatherman were gracious hosts.  Big thank you to Riviera Magazine!  The San Diego Polo Club had a fantastic time!

Photos from Campine Catering, Snake Oil Cocktail Co., TheMediaBuyLine.com, & San Diego Polo Club

Meet Ashton Wolf

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He has 30 horses, 3 kids, 1 wife and a whole lot of love for polo.  In our opinion, Ashton has grown into a great team player, and often times you will hear him communicating with his team during play.  Having Ashton on your team may be your greatest asset.

How did you start playing polo?
I started grooming for Casablanca (an American team in San Diego) and took lessons with the White Family.  I picked it up quickly and soon became pro.

Have you ever had a bad injury?
(laughs) You name the bone, I’ve broken it.  Hand, wrist, cheek, nose, foot…

How did they happen?
Mostly from being bucked off.  But I played through the game.  You have to.

Is there any technique to falling off a horse?
Yea, don’t fall off.

What about finding a groom?  Do you have any advice?
Trial and error.  Everyone likes things a little different, so a good groom is taught by the horse’s owner or pro.

How many horses do you have?
30.   A lot of them are young and not ready to play polo yet.

Wow.  That must take up a lot of time.  What is your daily routine?
Wake up early, check on the horses, ride a few sets, chill and either play in the afternoon, stick and ball or ride again.

Where are you from?
My father is from Austria, but I’m from here (USA).  I’ve done a lot of traveling in Europe, Asia, etc.  My wife, Marisa, is from Guatemala, so we’ve traveled in Central America quite a bit.

Didn’t you just take a vacation?
Yea, to Thailand with my wife and kids.  It was gorgeous.  We went to the Philippines and Singapore too.


Ashton & Marisa


Ashton & Sophia


Ashton & Matias

Tell us about your kids.
Ana Sophia is 5, Matias will be 3 in a couple weeks and Isabella will be 1 in September.  Isabella is running the show.  They like to help me with the horses- feed, ride, or wrap their legs (mainly just Soph).  We are like any normal family- go to the beach, play outside, ride bikes, anything really.

You and Marisa seem pretty laid back.  It’s hard to imagine you have 3 kids and 30 horses!
My wife is amazing! Plus, we have tons of family and friends that love the kids as much as we do.  Everyone contributes to their lives.

Matias, Erika (soon to be Auntie), Sophia, Isabella, Uncle Coco (Marisa’s brother), Marisa.  Supporting Papa Ashton at Empire Polo Club.

Meet Diego Cossio.

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We sat down with the shy and very humble Diego Cossio and learned a few surprises about this polo star.

How did you get your start?
I started playing in 1996 in the US.  I played for 10 years under the famous Steve Crowder.  He’s a good man and I owe him a lot.

Where do you play now?
San Diego of course, but I love playing in Calgary and Florida.


Do you do any cross-training?
I swim and play soccer.  After injuries, I lift weights.

Oh really?
Don’t put that.

What is your favorite sport to watch?
Ice hockey because it’s similar to polo in that the key is following the ball and pushing players out of the way.  Soccer too.

What about when you want to veg out?
Veg out?  Family Guy.  It’s light hearted and easy to watch.  The stuff they get away with is crazy.

Favorite movie?
Horror definitely.  The Exorcist.

Favorite book?
Wow.  It’s been a while.  The Alchemist – it’s simple but the ending is very good.

Can you play any instruments?
I’m actually an accomplished musician, you didn’t know that?  I’ve been playing guitar for a few years, self taught.

Diego and his band performing at Crash and Burn 2010.

So, what’s on your iPod?
Slayer, Rob Zombie, Alice in Chains, Pantera.

Anything in spanish?
Oh yea, Hermetica!  They are a really good heavy metal band in Argentina.

What’s a typical meal?
Meat.  If I can eat steak 3-4 times a week, I’m happy.

Any exciting news?
I’m taking a trip to Europe with my girlfriend, just for fun.  We are leaving Colton behind for a couple of days.  We don’t have plans, just a wedding to attend in Scotland, then backpack around for a bit.

Stacy and Colton, Diego’s family.

Sounds fun.  What are your plans for the future?
I’d like to continue playing polo for a few years.  Eventually, I would want to go back to farming sugar cane – I grew up doing it.  I just really love the whole process.

If you could take a trip anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Home – Tucumán Province, Argentina (known internationally for its sugarcane).

Meet Miguel Gutierrez

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Our player profile this week features the somewhat shy Miguel Gutierrez of Buenos Aires, Argentina. If you are saying to yourself, that handsome face looks familiar, it’s because it graces our general admission ticket for the 2011 season. Miguel jokes it’s the first step in his eventual rise to fame. He hopes to someday upstage his cousin and fellow polo player Mariano Gutierrez, who was featured in the music video for Britney Spear’s Radar. Miguel wants to let Britney know if she ever wants to remake her Oops!… I Did It Again video, he’s available!

Miguel is a seasoned player who has professionally competed around the world and he comes to The San Diego Polo Club after finishing  a season at the North Church Farm Polo Club in London. Separate of Argentina, his favorite location to compete is Indio, California. Miguel says with a quiet voice, “I don’t know, I just love the mountains and the landscape of the desert and after playing there for so many years, it has become like a home away from home for me.”

There is no questioning his passion for the sport and when asked what he do would do if ever won the lottery, he softly remarks, “I’d still keep playing polo, I can’t really imagine doing anything else.” It’s a fitting answer, as polo is a tradition that is deeply rooted in his family. He learned the sport from his grandfather and he someday hopes to pass along the game to his own children.

When he’s not playing polo or dreaming of fame, he is usually listening to music or fawning over Rita, his fierce pittbull and in many ways the love of his life! Sadly, Rita was unable to accompany Miguel on this trip to San Diego and with a sad look on his face he tells us, “I really miss her….” It’s the first time the two have been apart since he rescued her from a gas station 10 years ago.

Opening Day Recap

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On June 12, SPCD kicked off its 25th season in style with a fabulous day sponsored by Riviera Magazine, Ferrari & Maserati San Diego, and FLUXX nightclub.

We started out with two rousting matches.  In the first match, Tritech/Princeps triumphed over two other teams in the round robin match.  In the second match, Southwind/SanJudas came out on top with victory over Starmeadow/Adeptus.  Alvaro Tadeo scored 3 points in one chukker to take the win, scoring 4 points in total.  Other goals were scored by Guillermo Li (2) and Chris Collins (1).

Between matches, spectators enjoyed a fashion show produced by Ruth Melero of Melero Boutique, Ferrari parade showcasing the California, and Champagne Divot Stomp sponsored by Korbel.

A fan favorite, the divot stomp allowed guests to stretch their legs, take in the bi-planes loned up along the east side of the field, and drink complimentary Korbel California champagne.  The divot stomp is not only a fun social activitiy, but it helps replace the grass on the field.

During the matches, there was no death of food, from ChileCo’s ahi tacos to cake samples courtesy of Nothing Bundt Cakes.

The exciting day culminated with the 7th Chukker After Party sponsored by FLUXX with DJ and live trombone music.

Thank you everyone who made this day a success!  Join us this Sunday for a wonderful Father’s Day event.  The Rancho Santa Fe Cup Finals presented by Lincoln will feature “cigars and antique cars.”

What to Wear to Polo

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As the creator of fashion blog RichSkinnyPretty.com, Nacole Gray shares which major runway trends to incorporate into your polo seasonal best.San Diego Polomatch-goers are a veritable who’s who of the San Diego elite, exuding an effortlessly chic and sophisticated style. Not sure what to wear Opening Day? Don’t fret, Gray will have you putting your best foot forward for the fashion-studded fete, preferably head to toe in designer duds.

Lovely in Lace

Make a romantic statement with lace. With an effortless mix of feminine and allure you will look both charming and idyllic. Compliment the innocent yet sensual look with a long strand of pearls and voilà.

Alberta Ferretti Spring RTW 2011

Bright n’ Bold

Bubble-gum brights and jewel tones were all over the runways this season. Aren’t afraid of color? Turn heads with a vibrant tunic and pair with neutral wedges to show off those gams. 

Gucci Spring RTW 2011

Flirty in Prints

If you desire to be the center of attention then have fun with a little pattern play. This flirty little number by Diane von Furstenberg is for those of you eager to draw eyes. Just think fresh, sophisticated and soft silhouettes to create a light and airy look for summer.

Diane von Furstenberg Spring RTW 2011 

Classic Sophistication

The familiar A-line is a timeless silhouette which remains relevant season after season. Reminiscent of 1960’s glamour, the conservative yet delicate style continues to be a polo wear staple.
Chloe Spring RTW 2011

The sartorial set can’t go wrong with tailored, classic style. Masculine detail done right can be surprisingly seductive. Make a powerhouse statement with an androgynous take on polo wear and go for an inspired ‘70s sophisticated yet understated romper. Deliver a dramatic finish with a red sultry pout.

Alberta Ferretti Spring RTW 2011

Sheer Bliss
The ever popular sheer trend takes a refined, clean and minimalist approach yet with an ultra femme detail. Layer transparent separates to keep your look interesting. Even add an androgynous twist and tuck a sheer tank or blouse into a pair of wide leg trousers. Or try pairing with a pencil skirt in an unpredictable color for a powerhouse statement. Complete the look with oversized shades to add a hint of glamour.

Vera Wang RTW Spring 2011 

Thakoon RTW Spring 2011 

Preppy Charm
Don’t worry gentlemen, we haven’t forgotten about you. The sartorial set can’t go wrong with a tailored, fresh and classic style. Keep your palette light or neutral and opt for a streamlined pair of slacks, polo and a crisp summer blazer. Take a cue from Lacoste RTW Spring 2011 and keep your overall look polished yet casual.


Lacoste RTW Spring 2011 

See you at the Polo Fields wearing the must-haves of the season.

For more about Nacole and the season’s best fashion, visit her blog at RichSkinnyPretty.com.

House of Pink!

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You must have seen the photos all over Facebook.  Pink everywhere!  And all of it supporting breast cancer awareness!  The Pink Party is about celebrating life, creating awareness in hopes to prevent it, and education about breast cancer!

Hosted by the House of Blues in San Diego, the venue was turned pink!  This fun event was filled with pink costumes, glowing hula-hoops, talented dancers, realistic body paint, a chaitable opportunity drawing, local fashion and jewelry designers, and a whole lot of funk!


The Polo Club graciously donated to the Opportunity Drawing!

It was quite a surprise to see Debi at the Pink Party!  Debi does facepaint at the Polo Club!

Friends of the Polo Club, Rosanne and David Indermill.

Creative Director, Lindsey Chronert and Advertising Coordinator, Vanessa Shapiro show off Polo for Peace tees!

Our gorgeous friends and talented designers, Francisco Medavog & Anjela Piccard!

Another wonderful surprise, our old hostess, Shayda came on stage to present her funky fashion line!  We love Shayda!

More information: http://pinkpartysd.com/

Marshall Marshall Marshall!

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We are busy with all types of events, but we’re hardly complaining!  We shot down to San Diego State University  on Friday night to attend the 3rd Annual Aztec For Life Homecoming Celebration presented by the Marshall Faulk Foundation.

We were introduced to the event by one of our arena polo members and retired SDSU mascot, Carlos Gutierrez.  Here is Carlos making an appearance at the Homecoming Game in 2010.

We tasted appetizers from some of San Diego’s best restaurants, including our neighbors Pamplemousse and Tommy V’s!  Our favorite was JSix’s yellowtail sashimi tartar with tastes of currant, olive tapenade, and pine nuts coated in a citrus vinaigrette.  It was heavenly!  You can order it off their dinner/ happy hour menu!

The silent auction ended and Marshall Faulk spoke on stage about the importance of the event and how lucky he’s been to be a part of SDSU’s Alumni.  The event raised over $50,000 for YMCA and SDSU Scholarships for young athletes.

Here is our Creative Director, Lindsey Chronert, her boyfriend and Marshall Faulk.

More information: http://www.marshallfaulk.com