Pony Up
As the school year approached and the summer was coming to a close, we took our end-of-summer family vacation, visiting two regions of New York State where we have family: Binghamton and Saratoga Springs.
As usual, we packed in the activity, determined to try new things, share childhood experiences with our own kids, spend time with family, and come home rested, refreshed and smiling. It worked.
The first few days were spent in Binghamton. The boys drove down to NYC for a game at Yankee Stadium while the girls poked, shopped and snacked in Skaneateles. On the way to Saratoga, we stopped at Howe Caverns and viewed the big caves. While staying in Saratoga, we spent a day at the racetrack, feeling pretty smug in our fancy clothes and hats and enjoying great box seats that I’d won at an event in the spring. We went rafting in Sacandaga, spent a day in Lake George where the kids went parasailing and Grace and I posed as a flapper and a cowgirl in an Old Time Photo. We had floats at an old fashioned, drive-up A&W Root Beer restaurant and some of the best barbecue ever at PJ’s Barbecue.
We also went to a polo game. Ever seen a polo game? A real one, with horses, and British accents, and mallets and ladies in fancy clothes? I hadn’t been to a polo game in years. Maybe decades. But Saratoga is one of polo’s hangouts during the summer. There are matches from July through Labor Day and teams from around the world come to play. Really, like royals and everything. It’s true.
I struggle to come up with good adjectives for polo, for watching it from the sidelines. It’s unique, unlike any other sport you’ll spectate. It’s fast, thunderous, rich, steeped in tradition and lofty. (How’d I do with the adjectives?) At Saratoga Polo, there are two sides to the field, affectionately called the “Club Side” and the “Poor Side” (officially: Clubhouse and Tailgate). I’ve only been on the club side once. There is a dress code over there (Lily Pullitzer is a sponsor), and lots and lots of Range Rovers and champagne. It’s pretty posh. Yes, just as you’re imagining.
I really prefer the poor side. Over on this side, spectators back their cars toward the sideboards of the field. Tailgates and picnics begin to emerge: from gourmet foods, wine and tartan blankets to stadium chairs, fried chicken and Budweiser. Some people dress up, just because, and others are in sneakers and jeans.
We were on the poor side this year. We brought lots of food (way too much) and my father and his wife brought even more. The horses were beautiful, sleek, muscley, athletic.
The action was fast, the hooves were loud.
It was the first time our kids had seen a polo game. They had no idea what to expect – except horses, sticks and a ball.
At half-time it’s traditional to “stomp the divots” – push the grass back down flat on the field where it’s been pulled up by the players’ mallets. Spectators from both sides wander onto the field (300 yards long by 150 yards wide) and stomp around; some in sneakers, some in high heels, some in glass slippers (just kidding). Jaunty music plays in the background, many have glasses of wine or champagne in their hands as they stomp, stomp, stomp. The kids loved this part.
One of the nice things about polo too is that it ends fairly early. So after the match, there’s still time to head downtown, find the Grasso’s truck and then head over to Gaffney’s for some live music and libations. No dress code there. No stomping either. Usually.
Tags: Out and About
Loading ...
