The United States Polo Association (USPA) and International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC), in partnership with the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, will bring the Gauntlet of Polo, the world’s most prestigious series of polo tournaments, back to Palm Beach County for the third consecutive year. The 2021 slate of competition will once again feature three top-tier high-goal polo tournaments with the C.V. Whitney Cup, USPA Gold Cup, and U.S. Open Polo Championship. The festivities began on Feb. 10 with the remaining portions of last season’s pandemic shortened USPA Gold Cup.
Established in 2019, the Gauntlet of Polo has quickly garnered a reputation as one of the most thrilling and lucrative events in Palm Beach County. A guaranteed total of $1 million in prize money will be distributed throughout the event. Additionally, any team that manages to win all three tournaments consecutively will receive a $500,000 bonus and be crowned as the Gauntlet Champion. A new wrinkle to this year’s prize list is a donation that will be made by USPA Global Licensing to the final two team’s charity of choice.
In preparation for the upcoming polo season, IPC has released a comprehensive 12-page safety protocol that includes mandatory social distancing, mask-wearing when not eating or drinking, and increased sanitation stations throughout the grounds. Heightened safety measures like these have been adopted not only by the USPA and IPC but also by Equestrian Sport Productions and their annual Winter Equestrian Festival at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, also in Wellington. The adoption of such standards has allowed equestrian sports to lead the way in terms of sports event recovery in The Palm Beaches.
IPC, the host venue for the event, is a premier polo destination hosting the most prestigious tournaments in the United States with some of the world’s highest-ranked players. The centerpiece of the winter polo season, and spanning nearly 250 acres, IPC is the largest spectator-friendly polo facility in the U.S. Events such as the Gauntlet of Polo, U.S. Open of Polo, Gay Polo League, and Gladiator Polo attest to its eminence in the world of equestrian sports. But the venue offers much more than horse play: Its seven polo fields can be converted into 47 multipurpose fields, which are ideal for rugby, field hockey, lacrosse, football, soccer and more. The USA Field Hockey National Hockey Festival, American Youth Soccer Organization National Soccer Games, International Women’s Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association Presidents Cup, and the Rugged Rugby Tour have all been played at IPC. In 2017, the Florida Sports Foundation named IPC the “Large Market Sports Venue of the Year.” Created with players and fans in mind, the stadium welcomes nearly 800 spectators, with an additional 1,028 box seats, and features 7,000 square feet of indoor usable floor space.
The 2021 Gauntlet of Polo Schedule: 2020 USPA Gold Cup® Conclusion- Semifinal & Final
Tournament Dates: February 10-14, 2021
C.V. Whitney Cup (18-22 Goal)
Tournament Dates: February 17 – March 7, 2021
Closing Date: November 15, 2020
USPA Gold Cup® (18-22 Goal)
Tournament Dates: March 10-28, 2021
Closing Date: November 15, 2020
U.S. Open Polo Championship® (18-22 Goal)
Tournament Dates: March 31 – April 18, 2021
Closing Date: November 15, 2020
About the Palm Beach County Sports Commission
The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is a private, not-for-profit organization contracted by Palm Beach County to promote and market the County as a sports and sports tourism destination. The Commission brings sporting events and activities to the County, enhances economic impact, stimulates bed tax revenues (primarily in the off-season), and maximizes utilization of County facilities. The Commission offers a full range of event service support, corporate partnerships, sponsorships and a local membership program that support its goals. Local, regional, national and international marketing efforts are ongoing by the Commission with sports organizations and event owners. The Commission also produces sports-related programs for the residents of Palm Beach County including the annual Lou Groza Award program, the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame, and the Kids Fitness Festival of the Palm Beaches. For more information on the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, go to www.palmbeachsports.com.
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