Bridgehampton Polo Returns with Celebs in Tow
As Bridgehampton Polo kicked off its 2014 season at Two Trees Farm on Saturday, July 19, Dan’s Papers founder Dan Rattiner was put to work greeting and checking in cars to raise money for the Bridgehampton Child Care and Community Center.
Bridgehampton Polo co-founder Peter Brant’s White Birch team won the match, with Brant playing the Number 4 position. Ralph Lauren model and star polo player Nacho Figueras thrilled the crowd with his return as Number 3 player for the opposing team, KIG, as his wife Delfina Blaquier watched from the VIP tent.
In the end, White Birch lapped KIG and earned a 16-8 Opening Day victory, but Nacho and KIG returned to the pitch on July 26 to eke out a close 12-10 win over CT Energia. White Birch had another chance to enter the winners’ circle against CT Energia on August 2, but the match was canceled due to inclement weather.
The Monty Waterbury Cup Final is scheduled for this Saturday, August 9, followed by the Hampton Cup on August 16 and Closing Day on August 23. Participating teams have not yet been announced for these matches.
Celebs enjoying the first of this summer’s six Saturdays of polo included Georgina Bloomberg, “Mr. Broadway” Stewart F. Lane and his wife Bonnie, and artist Kevin Berlin with friends Marcella Ravell and Jeani Ziering. Of course, Bridgehampton Polo co-founder Neil Hirsch was also in attendance.
Xavier Vey, president of Lancôme, opened the match with the toss-out. Also enjoying the wine and lobster rolls were Ben Draper, Ray King, and Thomas Macari, who offered friends glasses of rosé from Macari Vineyards. As usual, it was an international crowd, including Oscar Acosta from El Salvador and Raj Singh from Guyana.
Whether you’re into the actual sport, or simply want to go celebrity spotting, Bridgehampton Polo is a lovely afternoon out in the Hamptons. General admission is just $30 per car and the proceeds benefit the Bridgehampton Childcare & Recreational Center. Gates will open at 3 p.m. on each Saturday at Two Trees Farm (849 Hayground Road) in Bridgehampton. Guests can tailgate from their own cars or park and watch from the grandstands, which are open to the public.
In the event of inclement weather, the polo match will be cancelled. Cancellations are announced on the day of the polo match on Twitter at @BHPolo.
For more info, visit bridgehamptonpolollc.com.