After a decade of hosting primarily polo events, the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington is stepping out onto new turf, featuring show jumping this winter season.
“We are a polo club, but we want to be able to support all of the equestrian disciplines,” explained John Wash, IPC’s president of club operations. “Our membership is made up not only of polo players and enthusiasts, but hunter/jumpers and people involved in dressage, as well as those who simply love horses. It seemed like such a great idea to open our fields to yet another sport.”
Wash said he hopes the initiative will help grow the equestrian industry. “I felt that we have the land, we have the access, and we want to do anything to help the equestrian industry and make our members happy,” he said.
For four days in January, IPC hosted the Ridge at Wellington Turf Tour, which quickly turned into a fan favorite.
The Turf Tour was designed to develop young riders and young horses. But last year, it became the talk of the Wellington circuit, with big earnings at stake for Level II jumpers. “After seeing the competition, I would love to expand what we can do for show jumping and hopefully help its growth in the future,” Wash said.
However, the club’s focus is still polo, with IPC hosting America’s “triple crown” of prestigious polo tournaments: the C.V. Whitney Cup, the Piaget Gold Cup and the Maserati U.S. Open Polo Championship, featuring the highest goal polo tournaments played anywhere in the United States.
IPC is also planning an exciting season of croquet and tennis events in 2014.
IPC is located at 3667 120th Ave. South in Wellington. For more information, visit www.internationalpoloclub.com.
ABOVE: Mason Phelps Jr., IPC’s John Wash and George D’Ambrosio. Photos by Kendall Bierer
