By james art 
Sandra Miller’s miniature horse, Gentry, entertained the crowd with a series of tricks Friday at the 13th annual Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships. (Photo: Patrick Holleron/Cronkite News)
SCOTTSDALE – At the center of WestWorld, the pounding of hooves on the ground was not heard above the cauldron of non-stop activity. There was raucous live music, lavish fashion and dog shows, unique concession stands and a fleet of motor vehicles all rolled into one extravagant festival.
The 13th Annual Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships drew record attendance as spectators from all over Arizona gathered to participate in the day’s lineup and watch the top 10 polo teams in the USA compete for the right to lift the Molina Cup.
Although the sport has been around for centuries, polo moved to a new level in Arizona in 2011 when championship matches began at WestWorld in Scottsdale with 2,500 in attendance. Since then, the popularity of the event has grown tremendously, with 12,469 attendees attending on Friday for the first day of competition.
“Growing the sport is really important,” said Wine Country Polo Club rider Steve Baumhoff. “It’s great to see a large audience of people here who have never witnessed polo and get an insight into the game. Polo, like other professional sports, requires constant activity. Events like this provide increased exposure to keep the sport alive in the long term.”
Originating in Persia and known as the oldest equestrian sport, polo requires teams of four mounted on horses and wielding a wooden mallet.
Players from competing teams clash in a tense championship polo match on Friday at the 13th Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships. (Photo: Patrick Holleron/Cronkite News)
The object of the game is for the little white ball to travel around the field and hit the opposing team’s goalposts to score points. The team with the most points at the end of four playing periods is declared the winner.
Over the years, the event has increased its efforts to attract non-polo fans with additional festivities.
“This is our Kentucky Derby event,” said Ed Babtkis, president of Ross Diversified Insurance Services. “There are all the high-end car brands, ladies dressed up and wearing magic hats, and guys smoking cigars. We’re not in Kentucky, but today we feel like we are.
“This is Scottsdale’s time to shine.”
The organic connection between fashion and polo is cemented by Phoenix Fashion Week, which has partnered with the event since 2014 to host the “World’s Longest” Catwalk Fashion Show. Phoenix Fashion Week offers popular and trending clothing brands for up-and-coming models to show off to the paparazzi.
“I think this event shines and enhances the culture that we have both in the Scottsdale area and in Phoenix,” said Bree Lloyd, fashion model. “The different communities we have around come together and we get to know different cultures.”
Part of the increased audience is related to more businesses and sponsors making annual appearances, increasing the sport’s visibility. Among the ardent supporters of the polo championship is Sandra Mitchell, a horse specialist.
Spectators enjoy the action while watching one of the polo matches on Friday at the 13th Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championship. (Photo: Patrick Holleron/Cronkite News)
Mitchell founded Therapy Mini, a business that uses miniature horses to provide mental and physical support to people in need. Invited to the event for the past four years, Mitchell values sharing her passion for horses and promoting polo.
“I live in Scottsdale and I’ll probably still come without my horses,” Mitchell said. “This event is unique in the sense that there are many different things going on. They are trying to build a holistic approach to horse processing and get more people to support the industry. I love being able to contribute and do pro bono work.”
Fan-favorite athletes from other sports have appeared over the years to show their support for polo. Former Phoenix Suns player and coach Dan Majerle did the honors of dropping the ball to start the inaugural game in 2011.
The annual event on Friday was attended by the likes of Arizona State football coach Kenny Dillingham and running back Cam Scatebo and former Suns center Mark West.
“I like the growth of the event,” West said. “I was never a big polo player like my friends here, but it was nice to be here to show support. It really is a social event.”
Now the anticipation for next year’s championship is stronger than ever.
“Our family is competitive and loves to watch all kinds of sports,” said Nikki Madden, Bree Lloyd’s mother. “I don’t care that I don’t know anything about polo. It’s our first time and we will definitely be back to watch more games behind the fence.”