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Twin City Polo Classic
Who: Polo enthusiasts, cancer research supporters, champagne drinkers, and some guy named Marco
What: Nineteenth annual Twin City Polo Classic
When: Sunday, August 3
Where: Twin City Polo Club, Maple Plain-ish
Why: Who doesn’t want to be a part of an event that raises money for the Children’s Cancer Research Fund and involves food, bubbly, a great polo match, and the chance to channel Eliza Doolittle?
You have to love polo enthusiasts, not even the constant threat of rain and 100 percent humidity could keep ladies and gents sporting oversized hats and seersucker from trekking to Independence to check out the Sport of Kings. Luckily, the rain that came fell mostly on Maple Plain, leaving guests to enjoy the match between Macy’s and Western Bank—or maybe the champagne and spreads offered in the host tents. Even as the spectacle of men on one-ton horses racing up and down the field—only feet from spectators—smacking balls with big mallets and trying to take each other’s heads off, guests seemed more concerned with what was going on in the tents than the field. I found this odd, until I got the scoop from a senate hopeful who shall remain anonymous (at least until slide eight). “It’s about good friends and a few cocktails.” Game, set, match.
You would never know this is the first polo outing for pals Aaliyah Shafiq and Elaina Livings—they have the polo thing down: cute dresses, great hats, and glasses full of champagne!
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CCRF supporters could purchase tents for friends and family to enjoy the match in style. The best hosts provide huge spreads.
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Faricy Law Firm won the award for the best spread—mostly for the large quantities of bubbly . . . (Do you notice a theme here?)
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And the most stylish guests. John Faricy’s friends: Les Kurkendaal, Jim Serbus, Ned Talley, and Gulad Abdullahi take advantage of the spread and the field-side seats. This A+E reporter was especially excited to meet Kurkendaal, who came all the way from Cali to serve up the Fringe Festival’s best-named show, The Attack of the Big Angry Booty.
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Meanwhile, this little princess, Esme Killion, was having the best fifth birthday ever. There was a tent set up just for the friends and family of the pony-loving b-day girl. “It’s a cause very close to our hearts, and she loves ponies, so it seemed perfect,” says mom Beth, explaining the five-year-old’s elaborate affair!
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Mackenzie Thomas and mom Heather came out to help Esme celebrate: “Princesses and ponies, what a great idea!” gushed Heather.
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There for the bubbly, not the birthday, Lisa Stortz, Dr. Suni Chin, and Jennifer Thill offered this overheated reporter a cool glass—which of course, I declined. “Can you drink on the job?” asked Lisa. No, Lisa—can you? Get me an app.
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Politicians love polo! Senate candidate and Ventura pal Dean Barkley with Arnie Palmer.
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Tens of hundreds of tentless enthusiasts braved the ever present threat of rain . . .
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Which didn’t bother Joni Steele and Michael Novak, who trekked all the way from the other side of Lake Minnetonka to see their first polo match. You two deserve the champagne!
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Back on the tent scene, Heidi Witte and Barb Ernst Robinson pose with former polo star and tent sponsor Bill Robinson.
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The Sport of Kings attracts some king-sized men!
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The Macy’s and Western Bank teams boasted polo legends such as David Allen and Doug Hoskins—well the announcer said they were legends. And if you can’t trust the announcer, who can you trust?
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Proving that the event was truly a family affair, even the pup, Iggy Boy, joined Ryan, Danielle, Michael (tiger), Tallie (butterfly), and Danica (puppy) for the afternoon.
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