Triple Crown Of Polo Highlights This Weekend At Aspen Valley Polo Club
CARBONDALE, Colo., August 22, 2025---Aspen Valley Polo Club's ninth tournament of the summer begins Friday with the prestigious Triple Crown of Polo at McClure River Ranch.
By Sharon Robb
With a breathtaking mountain view backdrop, the fun begins Friday with three teams competing in a semifinal round robin.
At 10:30 a.m. action begins at McClure River Ranch Field 2. Los Amigos Red (Paul Foster, Grant Ganzi, Santi Toccalino, Nacho Novillo Astrada), Los Amigos Blue (Alejandra Foster, Sugar Erskine, Nic Roldan, Hilario Figueras) and Audi (Jason Crowder, Tomacho Pieres, Alejandro Novillo Astrada) will play a round robin with the scores carrying over into Sunday's final.
Action continues on Saturday with Polo on the Barn Field at 11 a.m. followed by more fun at Kodiak Lake, 3:15-8 p.m.
On Sunday, the tournament wraps up with the championship final on McClure River Ranch Field 1 at 12:30 p.m. followed by the Just For The Love Of It Cup.
The Triple Crown of Polo trophy is comprised of three separate trophies that fit perfectly together to create an entire polo scene that is breathtaking in sterling silver with tournament winners' names inscribed on the trophy.
The Triple Crown of Polo, an ESPN2 television series, was created in 2005 by David McLane, known for Pro Beach Hockey, Women of Wrestling and Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, to help promote polo in the U.S. The show was seen in 129 countries.
The spectacular trophy was created for the event that had stops at the Sarasota Polo Club, Las Colinas Polo Club in Dallas and Santa Barbara Polo Club the first year in 2006 and Sarasota and New Bridge Polo and Country Club in Aiken, South Carolina in 2007 during its heyday before it went on hiatus.
In last year's Triple Crown of Polo-Aspen, Maltese Falcons (Nacho Novillo Astrada, Melissa Ganzi, Alejandra Foster, Alejandro Novillo Astrada) won the round robin to capture the title. Nacho Novillo Astrada was MVP.
Nestled in the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountains, Aspen Valley Polo Club is a summer destination for polo, players and horses.
The club's 12th season kicked off the July Fourth weekend with world-class polo and unforgettable summer vibes. The club always features busy weeks of lessons, practice sesssions and kids and adult tournament games.
Among this season's highlights is the new "Polo Is Beautiful" Beach Club with a DJ on Sundays and Tuesday's Twilight Polo Nights and Drone Show, an exclusive series through August 26.
Other highlights are the Silver Queen Invitational and August 26 Aspen Arena Series Final.
To open the 2025 season, Wellington-based 3 Graces Polo, making its Aspen debut, won both the Independence Cup (Rebecca Cohen, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Nic Roldan, Juan Bollini) and ChukkerTV Cup (Rebecca Cohen, Nic Roldan, Alejandro Novillo Astrada). McClure River Ranch (Roberto Poma/Ale Poma, Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Hilario Figueras) won the Craig Sakin Memorial. Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Sugar Erskine, Nic Roldan, Grant Ganzi) won the Basalt Handicap. Audi (Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Juan Bollini) won the Emma Challenge Cup. The Setai (Silver Novillo Astrada, Jason Crowder, Nic Roldan, Alejandro Novillo Astrada) won the High Alpine Cup. Audi (Jason Crowder, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini) won the Mount Sopris Cup. Avatar Financial (Ryan Cronin, Hilario Figueras, Nic Roldan) won the Rocky Mountain Open.
The family-friendly club on 15 acres of pristine land welcomes spectators of all ages. All matches, food and refreshments are free (with the exception of special catered and charity events) and open to the public including dogs on leashes.
Unlike any other summer polo destination in the world, the local culture offers shops, incredible culinary scene, art museums, music and nightlife in addition to hiking trails, mountain biking, whitewater river rafting, kayaking, golf and fly fishing.
For the first time this year, the new weekly "Polo Is Beautiful" Beach Club, open every Sunday during the summer season from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. VIP Beach Club tickets are available at aspenvalleypoloclub.com. Ticket holders are treated to handcrafted cocktails, traditional Argentine asado with a variety of meats including steak and sausages and always entertaining live DJ music. The Beach Club showcases lounge spaces furnished by Arhaus on beach sand and also Cold Plunge pools by Crystal River Spas, beach chairs and umbrellas with great fieldside views.
If you can't make it to the games in person, Wellington, Fla.-based ChukkerTV (CTV sports) is live streaming the entire 2025 polo summer season Mountain Standard Time with announcer Dale Schwetz calling the action. Aspen Valley Polo Club is the only USPA-sanctioned club to live stream its entire summer schedule.
With a vision for the community and surrounding areas, the Ganzi family resurrected the club and polo in 2014. Since then polo has increased in popularity in Aspen and surrounding cities with the club's offerings of various weekly grass and arena tournaments, Kidz Polo, "Polo Is Beautiful" Beach Club, Tuesday Night Twilight Polo Series and Drone Show, Kidz Wheelie Polo, Gymkhana, Christmas In July, The Polo School at AVPC and Polo On Demand.
In addition, the club offers practice sessions for teams competing in the club tournaments on more than six world-class fields. There are also indoor and outdoor polo arenas.
Aspen Valley Polo Club caters to men, women and youth polo players at all levels. Its' expert staff can customize a complete playing experience including horses, pros and certified umpires in addition to lessons and practice sessions as part of its' Polo On Demand program.
For more information on leagues or Polo School contact Polo School Director Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099.