Oak Brook to open 2017 polo season June 11
The 2017 Oak Brook polo season kicks off June 11 with the first of seven matches scheduled for the Oak Brook Polo Club field, 2606 York Road.
This marks the 95th season for the Oak Brook Polo Club, which was started by Oak Brook founder Paul Butler.
“Many past and present professional players got their start here and have gone on to have successful polo careers around the world,” said Danny O’Leary, the club’s managing director.
The June 11 season opener is being billed as Chicago Polo Day, as it features a match against Arranmore Polo Team, which is based in Oswego.
Gates are scheduled to open at 1 p.m., with festivities beginning at 2 p.m. and the match staring at 3 p.m.
As is the case for all matches during the season, a variety of ticket options are available, ranging in price from $10 for lawn seating to $80 for brunch and club seating.
The June 25 Commander’s Cup, which honors Armed Forces servicemen and veterans in a remake of the Oak Brook Polo vs. Black Horse Troop match, dates back to the 1940s.
On July 9, Horses & Horsepower features an on-field parade of new and classic Ferraris, followed by a match between Ferrari Red and Black teams. Spectators are encouraged to wear fedoras.
Oak Brook hosts the Chicago Polo Club championship match July 30, capping off a four-team Midwest competition.
Polo in Oak Brook takes on a different flavor for the International Polo Series Aug. 6, Aug. 20, and Sept. 10.
The Aug. 6 match pits Oak Brook Polo Club against Jamaica in a battle for the Drake Challenge Cup.
For the third year, the Delhi Polo Club visits Oak Brook Aug. 20 in a match for the Butler Challenge Cup.
The Friends of Conservation will host its annual fundraising event in conjunction with the Butler Challenge Cup match, with appearances by some furry African animals.
The season is scheduled to wrap up Sept. 10 when the Oak Brook team hosts the Wales Polo team in a battle for the International Cup.
In 2015, India and Jamaica played for the International Cup in 2015 and 2016, respectively.
Prior to 2015, the International Cup was last seen in Oak Brook in 1986 when it was presented to Prince Charles’s Wales Polo Team.
That match attracted an estimated crowd of more than 20,000 to see a young Prince Charles play polo in Oak Brook.