PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The first Philadelphia Polo Classic is coming to Fairmount Park this fall, replete with beautiful horses and a ground-breaking grass-roots equestrian organization that is both playing a part in and benefiting from the event.
The inaugural event will happen on September 24, close to stables at the park’s Chamounix Equestrian Center where the Work to Ride program is located.
Work to Ride works to empower underserved Philadelphia youth by teaching them how to ride, care for, and respect horses. It offers riding lessons, a summer camp, and a polo program.
“It’s given me the exposure that I normally wouldn’t have had in my community and where I grew up. Everything that was done for me, I’m incredibly grateful for,” said Kareem Rosser, a Work to Ride Program alumnus and captain of the first all-Black team to win a national interscholastic polo championship.
He said he envisioned a day when a competition like this would happen.
“If you were to ask my 8-year-old self this question, I probably would have said no, but as years went on and we became more successful, I saw this as a possibility,” said Rosser. He will act as a team captain during the event, the organization said.
World-famous polo champion Nacho Figueras will act as a co-captain during the competition.
“I’m very excited about coming to Philadelphia for the first time also. I’m excited about this event bringing awareness to the Work to Ride program and what it has done for so many kids,” he said.
“I grew up outside of Buenos Aires on a farm and I got exposed to horses at an early age. I think that also gave me a purpose. I believe that sports, in general, are important for a kid growing up.”
Councilmember Curtis Jones called recreation diversity an important aspect of success for urban kids.
“Whether you row, run or ride your way out of an urban environment, into a college campus, well done,” said Jones. “Now we add polo to a number of sports you can undertake in Philadelphia.”
Tickets are scheduled to go on sale for the Philadelphia Polo Classic on May 16. About 3,000 people are expected to attend.
More links:
- Philadelphia Polo Classic
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