We’re not talking about fancy collared shirts here, people.
The Louisville Thoroughbred Society Polo Cup, an upscale party centered around the game of polo, will return to Oxmoor Farm on Saturday, Sept. 9.
“A lot of people call it the Derby of the Fall,” said Josh Merideth, Makers House Creative Director. But unlike tickets to the Run for the Roses, the Polo Cup only offers high-end ticket tiers ranging from $200 to $1,000. There’s no general admission or infield — just open champagne bars and one really big, silk cloth tent.
Photo by Kate Starkel, Austin White, Kristen Ellis, Caleb Irvin, and Josh Merideth
“[It’s] this big, sexy, amazing sport with high-end, world-class spectators, but there wasn’t one in Kentucky where all the horses are,” Josh said.
Originally, he designed it to be a fairly small luxury event, but “it caught fire.” With nearly 700 people showing interest in the first year (2021), it grew from an intimate evening to a “beautiful monstrosity.”
So how does a Louisville-native transform a field into a day of opulence? With sponsors like Baccarat Crystal, Land Rover, Woodford Reserve, Vérité Winery + custom-built everything.
Photo by Kate Starkel, Austin White, Kristen Ellis, Caleb Irvin, and Josh Merideth
From the table linens to the bar backs, he and his team of vendors build the Polo Cup from the field up. “We basically build a city for a day. Ice trucks, generators, restroom trailers, tenting — all that has to be brought in.”
During the event, guests can watch world-class polo games on the field, enjoy drinks from open bars and lounges + participate in the divot stomp tradition. “After the first match, we pull out a huge champagne cart in the middle of the field, and everyone is invited out to help stomp down the divots the horses make, so the second match is safer for play,” Josh said.
Three ticket tiers are available to attend the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Polo Cup: Champagne Garden, Hospitality Tent, and Ivy Level. Each include a champagne limo ride to the field.