Fifth annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic to be held at Liberty State Park

[Miss Eliza Bennet]

And why wasn't this better advertised? I would have turned out to see Clive Owen...and brought him carrots. :-)

[TheFang]

But most importantly, did you guys see Benedict Cumberbatch?

[MCA™]

Typical Jersey Journal Star Ledger typo. Bottles were only $95, and they came in an ice jacket, a $55 value and yours to keep.

[Binky]

I went by this morning expecting to find piles left by the Ponies, but found only these.
(Prepublicity said $175.00 / bottle)

[MCA™]

Jersey City welcomes champagne, celebrities ... and polo
Published: Saturday, June 02, 2012, 3:25 PM     Updated: Saturday, June 02, 2012, 8:53 PM
Julia Terruso/The Star-Ledger

Celebrities Catch a Polo Match in Jersey City gallery (9 photos)

JERSEY CITY — The fifth-annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic descended on Jersey City's Liberty State Park today, showcasing a red-carpet lineup of celebrities, crates of champagne and a polo match somewhere in the mix.

Nacho Figueras, widely considered among the top polo players in the world, co-hosted the match between his team, the Black Watch, and the Espresso. It was the first time the event was held in New Jersey, which Figueras said made for an ideal location.

"I'm very happy. When I heard we wouldn't be able to do it on Governor's Island again, I was really happy to hear we could find a place where the skyline is the backdrop," he said on the red carpet.

The Argentinian native, and model, also said it's exciting to see the sport appealing to wider American audiences.

"My dream growing up was to bring polo to people and get people excited about polo," Figueras said.

Thousands of people set up picnics around the perimeter of the field, sipping champagne and snacking on finger foods. The day was about extravagance — formal, classy and preppy-chic outfits. Not to mention, lots of crazy hats.

Among the notable stars to cross the red carpet were Clive Owen, Minka Kelly, Padma Lakshmi and Tiffany Amber Thiessen.

The event benefited the Work to Ride charity which brings equestrian sports to under-served urban youth. The program is already in a number of U.S. cities, including Philadelphia but has not yet sprung roots in New York, Figueras said. He added he hopes to bring it here.

One of the young women the program has benefited is Shariah Harris, 14, who has played polo through Work To Ride in Philadelphia since she was 9-years-old. She said she stumbled upon the program one day as she and her mom were driving through Fairmount Park in Philadelphia and saw the stables.

"It' s just something very different. And something to look forward to," she said. "Not many people know about it until they start playing."

Across the field from the celebrity cabanas, group picnics blanketed the grass. The color scheme was a wash of pastels, whites and beiges. Most women wore heels and had to battle sinking into the soggy terrain from the overnight rainstorms. A sea of bright yellow umbrellas, the color of the champagne label sponsoring the event, popped against the very-blue sky.

"It's just like 'Pretty Woman,"' said Della Trinidad, 27, of Bloomfield.

She added it was "the most Chinos and loafers" she'd ever seen in one place at a given time. "We're coming from Essex County so this is very different," she said.

Trinidad attended with her two sisters and the three splurged on one of the bottles of champagne. At $195 a bottle, the theme of the day was extravagance.

"We're here to have fun. It's a beautiful day," her sister, Lauren Trinidad, said, as Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind" played on speakers in the background. "When are we ever going to be at a polo match again?"

[grovester]

Stuff Rich People Love

http://stuffrichpeoplelove.com/2009/06/04/polo-tournament-patron/

Stuff rich people love includes sports that the rest of the world does not pay attention to including aerobatics, shooting and polo. Most attractive to the wealthy is that the horse is central to the match and money can buy happiness and success.

To speak the language of polo you need to understand the basics of Polo. Each team on the field consists of 4 players and their horses. The object is to strike the ball through the posts at the opponent’s end line, the most goals wins. One match is typically 8 chukkas, or periods, which last 7 minutes each. What truly distinguishes this as stuff that rich people love…polo players typically switch horses after each chukka – that’s 8 horses per rider per game!

To be honest, I think it sounds kind of cool. I'd feel like Pretty Woman! (Didn't Richard Gere take her to a polo match?)

[Frank M]

I have a few polo shirts, I don't wear them often. Why is the player on the white horse trying to hit the other guy's horse over the head with the mallet? Is that how polo is played, to knock the other horses unconscious? It makes sense I guess, I really don't know the rules of the game.

Since “polo” comes from an old British cavalry expression meaning “donkey field hockey,” the rules are similar to donkey basketball, only without baskets, donkeys, and a large inflatable ball.  When somebody scores a goal, which is called a “full whizzit,” the other players have to shout “Marco,” and the last person to say it has to drink a yard of Bass Ale and is considered “it” until the next full whizzit.  During play, the other riders taunt the player who is “it” by throwing apples at him, and the horse who eats the most apples wins the match.  The mallets are in case somebody brings a croquet set but are otherwise helpful for knocking apples away from other contestants’ horses.

At least that’s how I understand it.

[MCA™]

The Fifth-annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic Rides On To New Ground
 
The Highly-Anticipated Star-Studded Event Welcomes New Yorkers to Liberty State Park on Saturday, June 2 to Experience the Exciting Sport of Polo and one of the Most Stylish Daytime Events in the Country

NEW YORK, May 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Veuve Clicquot Champagne is pleased to announce that the fifth annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic will return on Saturday, June 2 taking place this year at beautiful Liberty State Park. Known as one of the summer's most unique and glamorous star-studded social events, the 2012 Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic will showcase the sport of polo with a new backdrop—less than 2,000 feet from the Statue of Liberty with a breathtaking view of the New York City skyline on more than 15 acres of gorgeous park land.

The current construction taking place on the Governors' Island playing field, the original home of the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic since its inception in 2008, required Veuve Clicquot to find a new location this year. Veuve Clicquot was committed to finding a space accessible to city dwellers to host the event, which has become a staple of the summer season. Rather than moving the event to one of the many professional polo fields in the areas outside the of New York City, Veuve Clicquot was determined to stay true to its urban roots and find an inspiring location where the exhibition game could be played within a stone's throw from Manhattan.  After going through the arduous process of carefully surveying 27 locations in the Greater New York area, including parks, beaches, fields and islands throughout the five boroughs and beyond, Veuve Clicquot is pleased to call Liberty State Park its new home for the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic this year.

"With love and appreciation for the thousands of New Yorkers who have supported the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic these past four years, we are delighted that the 2012 Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic will be held at Liberty State Park," says Vanessa Kay, President of Veuve Clicquot U.S. "After a great deal of researching, surveying and examining a number of locations in the Greater Metropolitan area, we are thrilled to have found the ideal location to host the fifth-annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic. With views of the New York City skyline, the iconic Statue of Liberty and historic Ellis Island, the park truly reflects the spirit of the event, a signature occasion of Veuve Clicquot's social season that New Yorkers continue to look forward to year after year."

The game of polo and Liberty State Park both have storied and significant histories in New York and New Jersey. A tradition that was reintroduced by Veuve Clicquot in 2008, the sport of polo was first played in the United States nearly 70 years ago. The area that is now Liberty State Park was a major waterfront industrial area with an extensive freight and passenger transportation network during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Once considered the lifeline of New York City and the harbor area of Jersey City, NJ, today Liberty State Park is a leading tourist attraction and gateway to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. With over 1,212 acres of land and water, this green oasis in New Jersey is one of the most dramatic parks around New York City with spectacular views.

This year, as a result of the event's new smaller stomping grounds at Liberty State Park, the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic is a ticketed event with an admission of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per person. ln addition to entry, ticket price will cover ferry transportation to and from Manhattan to Liberty State Park or shuttle service available from the Liberty State Park station on the New Jersey Transit Hudson-Bergen Light Rail line. As always, Veuve Clicquot is committed to responsible alcohol consumption – accordingly, all guests must be ticketed and be aged 21 and over to attend the event. Furthermore, parking will not be permitted onsite – guests must either arrive via ferry or Light Rail. The 2012 Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic will also benefit a charity, to be announced in the coming weeks, as well as the Friends of Liberty State Park. In previous years, the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic has generously supported Sentebale and Hope Help Rebuild Haiti as well as The Will Rogers Ranch Foundation and California State Parks for the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic in Los Angeles.

Guests will be able to watch the exciting polo exhibition match, sip champagne, enjoy catering from Silkstone and celebrate a wonderful day in the park. All guests to the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic must purchase a ticket in advance to gain admittance; tickets will be available on http://www.vcpoloclassic.com starting May 1, 2012. Veuve Clicquot will host several lotteries through their Facebook page in the month leading up to the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, giving fans the opportunity to win free tickets to the event. Check http://www.facebook.com/veuveclicquot for more details.

Spectators will watch Nacho Figueras lead his team, Black Watch, against some of the world's best polo players on team Nespresso. Nespresso has a long association with polo, sponsoring some of the most prestigious tournaments worldwide, including St. Moritz Polo World Cup on Snow in Switzerland, the Argentine Polo Open Championship, and recently the Nespresso 108th U.S. Open Polo Championship at the International Polo Club Palm Beach. Veuve Clicquot welcomes Nespresso as a sponsor of the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic this June, followed by the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic in Los Angeles this fall.  

"The Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic is my favorite occasion of the year and I am grateful to share my love for the sport of polo with the people of this great city," says event co-host Nacho Figueras. "Working with Veuve Clicquot to make polo a fun, exciting and accessible sport is very important to me, and I'm proud that we searched long and hard to find a new location to keep the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic right next to where it first started. We always want to ensure that the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic has an element of the unexpected, so playing polo at Liberty State Park where polo has never been played is very exciting."

Synonymous with flutes of champagne and top-notch fashion, guests of the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic are encouraged to don classic polo style inspired by the traditional looks of fascinators and summer dresses for women and daytime suits for men. To help guests achieve their most fashionable moment, Veuve Clicquot will debut the new custom, limited-edition Veuve Clicquot-yellow parasol, created in collaboration with celebrated parasol maker, Penelope Parasols. The perfect accessory for an afternoon of polo-watching and champagne-sipping, the parasol is made of 100% silk dupioni fabric in Veuve Clicquot's iconic yellow hue with a solid hardwood shaft, brass-finish handle, ferrule and tips. Available for $189, the Veuve Clicquot Penelope parasols will be for sale at the event on June 2 as well as on Penelopeparasols.com, starting May 8.

To create a spectacular dining experience for all guests, Veuve Clicquot has partnered with Silkstone, one of New York's most creative culinary experts. Hailing from the highly buzzed about dining destinations, The Fat Radish in New York City and Ruschmeyer's in Montauk, Silkstone will create unique polo-paired dishes, of course in addition to Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label and Rose by the glass and bottle, will be available for purchase.

Co-hosts Vanessa Kay and world-renowned polo player Nacho Figueras will be joined by New York's most glamorous crowd, friends of Veuve Clicquot and polo enthusiasts in the VIP Marquee. In previous years, the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic has been attended by Mayor Bloomberg, Madonna, Kate Hudson, Ivanka Trump & Jared Kushner, Naomi Watts, Isla Fisher, Wyclef Jean, Amber Heard, Alek Wek, Julianna Margulies, Keith Lieberthal, Rachel Zoe and Rodger Berman, Zoe Saldana, Adam Sandler, Greg Kinnear, Jeremy Piven, Jaime King, Selma Blair, Sofia Vergara and more.

For additional event information, b-roll and/or still images of the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, background on Liberty State Park or to arrange an interview with participating Veuve Clicquot representatives or Nacho Figueras, please go to http://www.vcpoloclassic.com or contact clicquot@laforce-stevens.com.

ABOUT VEUVE CLICQUOT
Veuve Clicquot has a long association with polo in England with the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup and now in the United States of America with the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, which kicks-off the Veuve Clicquot Season summer opening.  The champagne house was established in 1772 by Philippe Clicquot, and began to thrive when Madame Clicquot took the helm 1805.  For over 200 years, Veuve Clicquot has been inspiring the world to "Be Clicquot": modern, audacious and premium quality.  These values, set forth by the ground-breaking and extraordinary Madame Clicquot and maintained by generations of Clicquot drinkers, promise a remarkable experience with each sip of Veuve Clicquot.  Today its eponymous Yellow Label continues to be one of the world's most beloved champagnes.  The Veuve Clicquot Season is an essential guide to the most exclusive social events and parties of the year across the country.  For more information, please visit http://www.facebook.com/veuveclicquot or http://www.veuve-clicquot.com. Always sip responsibly.

ABOUT BLACK WATCH
Black Watch is a world-class polo team which has won numerous tournaments throughout the United States. In 2007, Black Watch was the champion of the Mercedes Benz Polo Challenge and the winter champion of the Palm Beach Hall of Fame Cup. The team is captained by Nacho Figueras, professional polo player, face of Ralph Lauren's Polo Fragrances and model for Ralph Lauren's Black Label Collection. For more information, please visit http://www.Facebook.com/NachoFigueras.

ABOUT NESPRESSO
Nespresso began more than 25 years ago with a simple but revolutionary idea to create the perfect cup of Espresso coffee. The unique combination of our premium quality Grand Cru coffees, stylish machines, and exceptional customer service all together provide the ultimate coffee experience.

Nestle Nespresso SA is the pioneer and reference for highest-quality portioned premium coffee. Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, Nespresso operates in more than 50 countries and has more than 7,000 employees. In 2011, it operated a global retail network of 270 exclusive Boutiques. For more information, please visit http://www.nespresso.com.

SOURCE Veuve Clicquot Champagne

[CeeDub]

"I understand and will abide by the park's 5 drink maximum policy."

[MCA™]

Get your tickets!

http://www.vcpoloclassic.com/

[Bobblehead]

You are shitting me.

[Soshin]

Next they'll be having million dollar golf courses, airplane races and Formula One Grand Prix events in Hudson County.  Oh wait never mind, three for three.  It really does feel like the last days of the Raj around here.

[fasteddie]

I have a few polo shirts, I don't wear them often. Why is the player on the white horse trying to hit the other guy's horse over the head with the mallet? Is that how polo is played, to knock the other horses unconscious? It makes sense I guess, I really don't know the rules of the game.

[CeeDub]

Nacho is prettymuch bombazizzle, as a subject of the Crown, you should appreciate the Sport of Kings. PLUSit benefits CHARITY. how can that ne bad?

[Soshin]

what the.... first the diners are selling tarte flambe and now the toffs are riding around LSP whilst shouting "Tally ho old chap" and slapping each other on the pecker.  What the hell is happening to this town?  Where is a po' boy to go?

[MCA™]

Fifth annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic to be held at Liberty State Park in Jersey City
Published: Tuesday, May 01, 2012, 6:56 PM
Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012, 6:58 PM
The Associated Press



Polo action such as this will be plentiful at the fifth annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic that will be staged in Jersey City this summer.The benefit social event, which often draws scores of celebrities and wealthy patrons, is planned for June 2 at Liberty State Park. The classic is open to the public, but tickets must be purchased prior to the event and only those 21 or older can attend. Spectators will watch Nacho Figueras -- a world-class polo player who will co-host the event -- lead his team, Black Watch, against a team comprised of some of the world's best players.The event will benefit a charity, to be announced in the coming weeks, as well as the Friends of Liberty State Park group.

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