The annual Santa Ynez Valley Polo Classic, benefiting Santa Ynez Valley People Helping People, will return to Happy Canyon Vineyard at Piocho Ranch in Santa Ynez on Saturday, June 29.

The event will include high-goal professional women’s and men’s matches with a preliminary junior competition.

According to even coordinator Erica Valdés, there are many ways, at various price points, to watch the event.

“All the venues for the matches at Piocho provide spectacular up-close viewing. Only the amenities vary,” Valdés said.  “You can view the fast-paced action from luxury VIP boxes including champagne reception and sit-down lunch; beer and wine club seating; and economy general admission.”

Local resident Joel Baker, the Polo Classic’s “play coordinator” and a long-time “high goal” professional polo player, is once again recruiting the teams and players.  Baker said he expects that again this year the event will include some of the best and most celebrated male and female players in the world.

The Barrack Family, owners of Piocho Ranch and sponsors of the Happy Canyon Vineyard team of polo professionals, will host the Polo Classic for the fourth consecutive year.

“We are thrilled to once again host this fantastic event,” said T.J. Barrack. “Each year the event has been extremely well organized, highly attended and has delivered a display of world-class polo. My family is proud to support our community and the great efforts of People Helping People in this way and embrace the expanded opportunity to promote the sport we love at the place we love.”

According to Nancy Hunsicker, PHP board member and Polo Classic co-chair, the success of the Polo Classic is due to the collaborative efforts of community leaders, dedicated volunteers, and generous corporate and small-business partners.

“We hope that even more folks will attend or volunteer and that additional businesses will step up as sponsors,” she said. “You don’t have to be a fan of or expert in polo to enjoy the beautiful setting and the competition, speed, and horsemanship professional polo players display.”

VIP, Patron, Club, and general admission tickets are available at syvpoloclassic.com. Contact Valdés at erica@syvphp.org for patron pricing and availability.

General admission tickets are $15 each and $5 for children under 12. They include nearby parking and shaded seating close to the action.  Food and beverages, including beer and wine, will be available for purchase.

Tickets, volunteer opportunities, and more information are available online at www.syvpoloclassic.com or by calling Valdés at 805-686-0295.

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The Santa Ynez Valley Polo Classic, a major fundraiser for People Helping People, will include three matches for the first time when this year’s event takes place Saturday, June 23, at Piocho Ranch at Happy Canyon Vineyard in Santa Ynez.

In addition to the traditional matches, one spotlighting up-and-coming junior players and another featuring “high goal” professionals, the third match will introduce exceptional professional women players.

The Polo Classic’s feature match of high-goal professionals will include the return to Santa Ynez of two exceptional world-famous players, said Joel Baker, player coordinator for the event.

One of the most popular players in the world, Nacho Figueras, will ride for Team Piocho. Figueras is an Argentine player who has been ranked as one of the top 100 polo players in the world.

He is perhaps better known as a former spokesman for Ralph Lauren‘s Black Label, but polo has been his real passion. He has said that his mission in life “is to bring polo to the world a little more.” So, he is working hard to raise the profile of the sport.

Riding for Team J.B. Polo Ranch will be the legendary Memo Gracida, a member of the Polo Hall of Fame. Gracida, a 10-goal player and the player with the most U.S. Open victories, is a multiple-time Player of the Year.

Memo said he is proud to return to play again in the Polo Classic. “I really believe in giving a hand up, the way PHP does it,” he said.

For more information or to buy VIP, Patron, Club, or General Admission tickets, go to www.syvpoloclassic.com or email erica@syvphp.org.

Tickets can also be purchased with bus transportation from stops within the Santa Ynez Valley, Westlake, Arroyo Grande, Santa Maria and Santa Barbara.

Prices for transportation are posted on the ticketing website and vary by point of embarkation.

The VIP reception and a Juniors’ match begins at 10:30 a.m. General Admission and Club seating open at 11:00 a.m., and the women’s match begins at 11:15 a.m. with the feature match at 1:30 p.m.

Piocho Ranch is at 1100 Secretariat Drive off Happy Canyon Road in Santa Ynez.

People Helping People is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of men, women and children in the Santa Ynez and Los Alamos valleys and surrounding areas by addressing emergency and basic needs and furnishing comprehensive integrated family and individual support services.

To learn more about PHP, its programs and ways to help, visit www.syvphp.org or call 686-0295.

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