The History of Wellington Polo

The History of Wellington Polo

Wellington is famous for its Polo events. It is home to the most celebrated polo competitions in America. It has a wide-range of that cater to polo horses and enthusiasts. The International Polo Club Palm Beach is the most renowned polo facility in the country.

Wellington was not originally designed as an equestrian mecca. In the 1950s, the land was bought by New York accounting magnate C. Oliver Wellington. After his death, his son, Roger Wellington, started finding ways to improve the land. Together with the Investment Corporation of Florida (ICOF), he was given an approval to develop 18,200 acres in 1972. This is the largest single development allowed ever in Palm Beach County.

Bill Ylvisaker, the Gould’s polo-playing chairman in Florida, purchased the interests of ICOF in the already developed residential neighborhoods in Wellington. Then he started the groundwork for Wellington to become as an equestrian capital. He established the Palm Beach Polo & Country Club, exceptional neighborhoods, and home for what would become the Winter Equestrian Festival.

In the late 1970s, Wellington first inaugurated itself as an international haven for world-class polo. It was the place of many top polo tournaments. But the fall of the revered Palm Beach Polo & Country Club as a host venue for high-goal Wellington polo in the late 1990s led players and patrons to find a new site.

Operating under the new name The South Florida Polo Club, it served Wellington polo events. It originally operated using private fields to continue elite competitions. These competitions were eventually brought to the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

In 2002, the International Polo Club Palm Beach obtained guardianship of the 26-goal C.V. Whitney Cup Tournament which made the Wellington as the high-goal polo’s new home.

The club landed the United States Polo Association’s prestigious U.S. Open Championship in 2004 which followed by the said association’s Gold Cup Tournament in 2007. The IPC was the first club ever to host the three highest-rated polo tournaments in the nation.

Wellington now has 69 polo fields. And there are hundreds of practice rings as well as competition arenas and paddocks. During peak season, Wellington caters to more than 12,000 horses.

Come and join the thousands of Wellington polo fans! In case you are looking for a strategic Wellington equestrian property for sale for your Polo sport, you can call Nestor and Katerina Gasset at 561-753-0135!