The Greenwich Polo Club held a press event April 18 to whet the appetite for a May 15 charity match that will feature Prince Harry of Wales in his first club appearance.
The prince will play for the Sentebale Land Rover Team while polo star and Ralph Lauren spokes- model Nacho Figueras captains the St. Regis team. They’ll be vying for the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup – named for the charity Prince Harry founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to aid disadvantaged children there.
Polo player and financier Michael Carrazza, who is chair & CEO of Solaia Capital Advisors LLC, said he expected a “tight game,” though “not necessarily low scores.” He was on-hand for a demonstration that revealed the friskiness of the ponies. Back from Florida, these thoroughbreds – mares or geldings – clearly have been invigorated by the cool northern air.
But given the events of the week, there was more than polo on the minds of the participants in the press conference. Torquhil Ian Campbell, the 13th Duke of Argyll, joined with others in expressing condolences to Boston and to Texas, where a huge plant explosion rocked the tiny town of West, killing as many as 15 and injuring more than 160 others. Campbell, chief of the Campbell Clan, personalized his message to include Krystle Campbell, who was killed in the Boston bombing.
The duke represents Royal Salute, a premium Scotch whiskey that supports world polo and is a sponsor of the May 15 event. The other sponsors include Land Rover, Town & Country magazine, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, Garrard and, of course, the Greenwich Polo Club.
For more on the club’s preparations for the occasion and an appreciation of Prince Harry, see WAG’s May “Heating Up” issue. – Louise T. Gantriss
