Polo is Back December 2022!

Dec 29, 2022

If you didn’t know already, we love Polo here at Showcase – one of our very own agents has played with Team Resolute – and we wait rather impatiently for new match seasons to start at Florida Horse Park.  So it is with glee and anticipation that we’re happy to say it’s back for Winter Season as of Sunday, December 4, and every Sunday following until March 26 (with some exceptions – be sure to check their schedule! ).
“December is always kind of an in-between time for people because of the holidays,” explains David Eldredge of Ocala Polo Club. “Once we get into January, it really starts hopping. But we’ve been getting some really good crowds already; it’s beginning to take hold, and more of the community knows we’re there.”

The theme Opening Day was Polo for Pooches, where people brought their canine companions to show off and compete for various awards and prizes, from the biggest to the smallest, cutest to best dressed. Dogs are a big hit at Sunday Polo and are always welcome (so long as they’re on best behavior); in fact they often outnumber the horses and make the afternoon that much better for everyone there.

Matches at Florida Horse Park have been increasingly gaining in popularity, with a dedicated cadre of regulars who pull up to tailgate along the sideline, but there’s always room for more. Summer matches are later in the day to avoid the extreme heat of the season, but in Winter we make a whole afternoon out of it, starting at 1pm. Reservations are required at the Ocala Polo Club website; tailgate is $25 and General Admission is $5 per match, with VIP packages available, too. Choose one, settle in, and get a snack from the food trucks before the match begins. And there are big plans ahead for 2023.

We’re happy to be continuing at Florida Horse Park playing polo on weekends – and it’s wonderful how people have stepped up to be involved. Our whole goal is to encourage people to come out to the park and enjoy the games and to do things that give back to the community.

– David Eldredge, Team Resolute Coach

The Club has formed a lasting partnership with Wounded Warriors over the years, promoting the program through outreach and fundraising. Their first event together was fairly small scale, but it raised a significant amount of money and support. Subsequent fundraisers were exponentially successful, to the delight of both organizations. It’s an association Eldredge has found enriching for himself personally as well as the community.
“We’re doing our Polo Ball fundraiser at World Equestrian Center in February, which is wonderful. WEC donated the space to us and has been incredibly supportive, as has Dillard’s, another of our sponsors.  We’re really happy to have them involved and helping out. Wounded Warriors is such a worthy organization that does hands-on work, and the money they raise actually goes right to helping the veterans. They’re a force for good in the world.”

If you’ve never been to Polo before, never fear – we have some primers for novice fans. Check out Enjoying Polo in Florida and Ocala’s Horse Country, and our Community Spotlight on the Ocala Polo Club. You can also check out Ocala Polo Club’s Page, where you can also reserve tailgate space as well as large party and General Admission tickets. As a sponsor, Showcase has a tent on the sideline as well, so if you see us, stop by for a visit and say hello!

“We’re happy to be continuing at Florida Horse Park playing polo on weekends – and it’s wonderful how people have stepped up to be involved,” Eldredge says. “Our whole goal is to encourage people to come out to the park and enjoy the games and to do things that give back to the community.”