Experience Traditional Polo in Buenos Aires
Attending an Argentine Polo Match during your stay in Buenos Aires is a must – it’s unlike any sport we’ve ever watched, except maybe hockey.
We just happened to visiting during the 125th Argentine Open Polo Tournament, which runs annually between November and December at the Argentine Polo Ground in Palermo, also known as the “cathedral of polo.” It’s considered the most important inter-club championship, and the best time of the year for viewing the best of the best polo. But, there are other times of the year you can catch Polo in Buenos Aires.
1. Tickets aren’t so easy.
Buying tickets in advance is not so easy as it should be. Whether you buy online or in-person, you’ll have to go pick them up from one of the ticket distributors across town. You read correctly, there is NOT an option as of 2019 to have the tickets delivered online. When we arrived to the championship, there were plenty of seats available, so it wasn’t really necessary to purchase them in advance.
2. Dress accordingly.
Very similar to the American Kentucky Derby attire, you’ll feel underdressed in casual wear. For the ladies, pull out those whites and don a large sun hat, high heels encouraged. For the dudes, you’ll feel right at home in a matching white linen set with dress shoes and a polo hat. We dressed a little too casually and felt out of place. We recommend not making the same mistake, and arriving dressed to the nines!
3. Know the rules.
Watching a game of polo for the first time without knowing rules, you might surmise its closest to a hockey game, and you might just be right. Here are the basics and probably all you need to know for your first game:
- The game lasts around 2 hours, divided into period they call chukkas. There are 6 chukkas in the professional version of the sport, less in other versions.
- There are 4 players per team and 2 umpires on the field of play.
- The goal posts are open at the top and usually 8 yards in width.
- There are 50 different horses, at least, available per game to the teams. Each player must have at least 2 horses to switch in between.
4. Savor pre-game drinks.
Before you enter the stadium, have a seat and watch the crowd at one of the wine or beer vendors. Some are quite close to the practice field (where everyone hangs out pre-game), others are closer to the main field bleachers.
Also note that you will not be able to purchase anything at the stadium directly with a credit card or cash. You have to first add funds to a separate card, then you can use that card to purchase drinks and food. It seemed like an inefficient process with no Apple Pay or electronic distribution options, but hey – maybe we’re too efficient in San Francisco these days.
5. Watch the horses bathe.
The horses are cleaned in between each chukka. On your way to your seat, take a moment to observe the steeds as they get their sudsy bath, it’s quite a site.
Nicknamed “polo ponies” – the horses that play are a type of horse, rather than a breed. The Argentine polo pony is a cross between the thoroughbred and a native Argentinian breed called the “criollo.” These ponies must meet certain physical requirements – a blend of speed, intelligence, endurance, strong legs, and of course – a love of the game of polo.