Departure for Buenos Aires

Argentine Polo Open: The Pinnacle of Polo

The Argentine Polo Open, the final leg of the Triple Crown, is the annual holy grail of polo – akin to the Aachen of equestrianism, bringing together the 40 best players in the world, all but two of whom are Argentine. Since 1893, legends of this sport have been created and celebrated at Palermo (the venue in the heart of Buenos Aires). The greatest of them all is Adolfo Cambiaso, who at 49 years old, aims to claim his 19th title (and 16th with his team La Dolfina) in his 32nd appearance.

The final, to be held on December 7th this year, is played in front of around 18,000 spectators. Beyond the sport itself, Palermo is THE annual gathering for the global polo community. Across Buenos Aires, particularly in Pilar, approximately 50 km from the capital, there are dozens of satellite tournaments. Pilar, with over 500 polo fields, hosts primarily “patrons” – wealthy polo enthusiasts from all continents who form the financial backbone of this sport.

Here, they hire professional players for the next season and purchase horses and equipment. Polo represents a significant economic factor for Argentina: Over 75% of the world‘s saddlery is produced in Argentina, renowned for its leather goods, and around 3,000 to 4,000 polo horses are exported annually. The cloning industry is also thriving, heavily influenced by clones of the legendary Cuartetera, a mare owned by Adolfo Cambiaso. Argentine President Javier Milei, a polo aficionado, has called Cuartetera the greatest polo horse of all time – alongside its rider, Cambiaso. The two recently met at the Casa Rosada to discuss making polo a national cause.

This year, Cambiaso will not defend his title, which was claimed last year by his nephews from La Natividad, but he remains a strong contender for his 27th final appearance since his debut at age 17. After 13 years of “Clásicos” against Ellerstina, the rivalry with La Natividad has emerged as the new standard final since 2021. However, two other teams have stepped into the spotlight: La Hache (Hilario Ulloa), winner of the Open de Tortugas, and Ellerstina Yellow Rose (Gonzalo Pieres, without his brothers but with Sapo Caset).