n front of a good crowd including many first timers to polo, Mount Gordon won the third annual Philadelphia Polo Classic.
By Sharon Robb
On a perfect day for polo, Mount Gordon (Shariah Harris, Daymar Rosser, Grant Ganzi, Jason Crowder) rallied in the third chukker to defeat Mars Equestrian (Melissa Ganzi, Brandon Rease, Kareem Rosser, Nic Roldan), 7-6, Saturday at historic Fairmount Park’s Edgely Field.
“I think the game we played was a really good ballgame,” Grant Ganzi said. “It was competitive and open. There weren’t a lot of fouls. It was fun. For us to come back after being down pretty early it turned the game around. There was a good, competitive fun spirit out there. It was really cool.
“It was for an amazing cause, it’s an amazing charity that changes people’s lives,” Ganzi said. “I always say if you can get polo to the masses bring it. They were able to get people from all different backgrounds. For me it was special. I was born here and have roots here.”
The day of great polo, great food and vendors, and great fun was a fundraiser for the Work to Ride program, based at Fairmount Park and in the midst of expanding its facility thanks to the generosity of donors.
Work To Ride alum Daymar Rosser swept Most Valuable and Best Playing Pony honors. Rosser played a key role in the rally scoring three goals in the third chukker. He finished with four goals.
“I thought Daymar was very impressive,” Ganzi said. “He played an unbelievable game. It was fun for me playing with Daymar.”
Nasa, a 16-year-old bay mare played by Rosser in the second and fourth chukkers, was Best Playing Pony. Wellington-based Santa Rita Polo Farm donated Nasa to the Work To Ride program after the game.
Rosser graduated from Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I., where he co-founded the polo team in 2016. One year later, he captained the team to victory in the 2017 Intercollegiate National Polo Championship, earning them the national title.
Rosser was among 16 alums and current Work To Ride players competing in the fundraiser to raise money for the state-of-the-art, 45,000 square foot McCausland Arena, a new indoor riding facility, along with other upgrades, with Phase I currently under construction.
In the featured game, Mars Equestrian, led by leading scorer Melissa Ganzi (with five goals), led 3-1 at the half and looked to be in control before Mount Gordon got hot in the second half.
Mount Gordon reeled in Mars Equestrian scoring four goals in the third chukker. Behind Rosser’s back-to-back goals, Mount Gordon tied the game, 3-3 with 3:25 left. Two more goals by Crowder, making his event debut, and Rosser gave them a 5-3 lead going into the fourth and final chukker.
Crowder and Rosser scored goals for a 7-4 lead with 2:30 left in the game. After Grant Ganzi came up with a goal-stopping play on Rease, Melissa Ganzi scored back-to-back goals in the final minute of play.
In the opening game featuring Work To Ride past and present players, Johnson & Johnson and Goshen Hill played to a 4-4 tie with Mo Gravesande scoring what turned out to be the tying goal with 5:10 left.
Julian Penados was Most Valuable Player. Zima, a 10-year-old off track thoroughbred, played in the first and third chukkers by owner Kathy Fowser, was Best Playing Pony in the first game.
In addition to two two polo matches, a parade of foxhounds, Philly Goat Project, doggie divot stomp, best hat and hot fashion contest, large and small dog contest, antique carriage ride, Eagles cheerleaders and pep band, pony stick racing and raffles were among other attractions. VIPs sat beneath white tents, snacking on charcuterie and sipping champagne.
Founded in 1994 by visionary Lezlie Hiner, the nationally-recognized Work to Ride, a 501c3 nonprofit community-based prevention program, helps under-resourced urban youth through constructive activities centered on horsemanship, equine sports and education.
“How happy am I that you chose to join us on this lovely occasion,” Hiner said to the crowd. “The sidelines are full. We have some great players here for a great cause. We are so thankful that we have the support of our city.”
For 30 years, a group of inner-city kids in Philadelphia have been breaking down barriers of class and race in the traditionally exclusive sport with a simple concept: they work to ride. It is the only program of its kind in the nation.
In the inaugural Philadelphia Polo Classic, Goshen Hill (Melissa Ganzi, Shariah Harris, Daymar Rosser, Nacho Figueras) and Mount Gordon Farm (Mosiah Gravesande, Grant Ganzi, Kareem Rosser, Nic Roldan) played to an 8-8 tie. Mosiah Gravesande was MVP.
Melissa Ganzi, Grand Champions Polo Club President and owner grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from Penn’s Hahnemann Medical College (now Drexel University). She co-chairs the committee to raise money and has played a vital role in helping to build the center and raising worldwide awareness for the sport. Grand Champions brought two trailer loads of horses and its staff to support the event.