USA Takes on Team Jamaica At This Weekend's Polo

The match on Saturday, Aug. 18, at 5 p.m. features the return of in the Newport International Polo Series.

The Jamaicans have a long standing rivalry against USA, and drew a near-record crowd last season that enjoyed a USA comeback in the second half but lost by a goal.

USA team captain Dan Keating explains the prowess of the Jamaicans, "For a small country, Jamaica's polo players have an unusually high average handicap, because most of their players come from families that have played polo for generations. They are a difficult team to beat." 

The two-hour match will be followed by a trophy presentation of the perpetual USA vs. Jamaica silver revere bowl and naming the Best Playing Pony. A weekly door prize will also be awarded during the match. The event concludes with the Newport Polo Club's authentic Jamaican jerk grill dinner. (Reservations required for the dinner.)

For more info about attending the weekly matches, or regarding weather-related questions about the status of the match, call the Info Line at (401) 846-0200.

Tickets can be purchased using the online box office until 10 a.m. on the day of the match, or at the entry gates which open at 1 p.m.

General Admission for lawn or bleacher seating and tailgate picnics is $12 for adults; children 15 and under are free.

Box seating in the Subscribers Enclosure is also available for $20/person. For season tickets, group reservations and more information, call (401) 846-0200.

Dating back more than 130 years, the polo matches are a unique and popular Newport  summertime tradition, open to the public. Audiences of several thousand spectators enjoy cheering for the international guests as well as for the home team.

With two debuts this season, the Polo Series will have hosted 27 nations over its 21 seasons including England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, India, New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Argentina, Costa Rica, Jamaica,  Barbados, Canada, Hungary, Dominican
Republic, Netherlands, Kenya, Brazil and newcomers China and Italy.