Spiculus unseats favored Spartacus to win the title in inaugural arena final. Seven-game series was played from January 26 to April 8, with teams vying for $250,000 in prize money.

Mark Bellissimo, CEO of Wellington Equestrian Partners which purchased International Polo Club Palm Beach last year, was looking for a unique way to attract spectators, potential players and sponsors. Thinking outside the box, he worked extensively with Executive Director of USPA Services Bob Puetz, to come up with a way to make the sport more appealing.

Puetz, a former 5-goal arena player himself, helped develop the series made up for four 20-plus goal teams. With extensive signage, including banners pulled by airplanes, and local media coverage, 3,000 spectators filled the ringside stands of the Equestrian Village at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center for the inaugural event.

Initially, it was to be a three-game series for $100,000 purse, but based on the success, it was stretched to seven games and an additional $150,000 purse was added.

Dubbed Gladiator Polo, teams were named after Roman gladiators. The first match pitted the 24-goal Spartacus team of 7-goalers Felipe Viana and Jason Crowder with 10-goaler Tommy Biddle against the 25-goal Crixus led by 9- goalers Mike Azzaro and Matias Magrini with 7-goaler Santi Torres. Differing from traditional arena polo rules, the match was split into six five minute chukkers of continuous play. After a team scored a goal, the opponent would immediately knock-in instead of coming back to the middle for a throw-in, limiting stoppages and keeping the game moving.

Fouling was kept to a minimum. Spiculus’ Pelon Escapite explained, “It is a very physical game, if you get very technical, it makes the game really slow. We are making it spectator friendly, so you have to let the little fouls go. We just try to be safe and make sure to put on a great performance for the crowd.”

Staying with the theme, the transformed dressage arena was renamed the Coliseum and teams were introduced to the crowd riding chariots pulled by ATVs. People dressed as gladiators were spotted throughout the venue, greeting people and offering photo opportunities. Face painting, pony rides and rides on horse simulators were offered to the general audience, while an authentic Argentine asado was enjoyed by those in the VIP tent. VIP guest also enjoyed an after party in the “Lions’ Den” with music, drinks and dancing. At halftime during the first match, kids were selected from the audience to participate in a goal shooting contest using foot mallets. Other times, the “Chukker Bear” mascot threw t-shirts into the audience.

In the first match, Biddle showed why he is 10 goals in the arena by slamming in the first goal. Torres responded but Biddle sunk a Penalty 3 conversion early in the second. Azzaro answered with two in a row to give Crixus the 3-2 lead. Both teams converted Penalty 2s in the third and a goal by Torres widened the gap to 5-3. Crowder’s two-pointer knotted the score at 5-all in the fourth.

It was a hard-fought battle between the teams, and time was briefly called after Magrini took a hit to the mouth. Biddle dominated the fifth chukker with a pair of two-pointers added to a goal by Viana, while keeping Crixus from reaching the goal. Crixus fought back in the sixth, with each player adding goals to close the gap to two with a minute left. Spartacus was whistled, giving Crixus a mid-field hit worth two points but was unable to convert it. Biddle knocked in a Penalty 2 to increase the lead. A last gasp by Azzaro cut the deficit but Crixus ran out of time, giving Spartacus the win.

Spartacus took the $24,000 purse, while Crixus settled for $6000. Biddle was pleased with the first win. “It’s fantastic. I’m really happy to have my own horses today. It’s awesome to play this level of polo with all these great players ...” Azzaro seemed less enthused, describing the match as more physical and aggressive than he expected.

Organizers learned a few lessons from the first week. The matched got off to a late start while the arena was getting prepped and then, with some pro players not as familiar with arena play, they would wind up for a big shot only to have the ball repeatedly hit out of the arena.

Before the next match, netting was added and the balls were slightly deflated to prevent them from getting hit out. Teams donned new uniforms with matching helmet covers, while horses wore matching wraps, saddle pads and head covers.

The next match had Spiculus, with 9- goaler Sebastian Merlos and 7-goalers Pelon Escapite and Juan Martin Zubia, pitted against Priscus’ 8-goaler Jeff hall with 7-goalers Jeff Blake and Tommy Collingwood.

Spiculus jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead in the first chukker thanks to the combined efforts of Escapite and the 17- year-old hot shot, Zubia. Spiculus continued to dominate through the first half while Priscus struggled, ending with a 12-3 Spiculus lead. Blake was the author of Priscus’ goals, including a twopointer. At the half, teams of grooms raced to tack, ride the length of the arena and untack horses in the fastest time. A $500 prize went to the winner.

The teams matched each other with three goals apiece in the fourth before Spiculus gained momentum, ending the fifth 19-8. Each team was limited to a single goal in the last period, crowning Spiculus the winner of the $24,000 purse, while Priscus settled for $6000.

“Gladiator polo keeps getting more exciting with every match,” said Bellissimo. “Whether or not they had ever seen polo, spectators were mesmerized. with seating just feet away from the arena, you could see the expressions on the players’ faces and hear what they were saying.”

The third installment had Spartacus and Spiculus, winners of the first two matches, battling each other in one of the best matches of the series. Spiculus’ Pelon Escapite struck first but Felipe Viana scored followed by two in a row from Jason Crowder. Juan Martin Zubia stole the show in the second with a trio of goals before Viana struck for Spartacus. Sebi Merlos and Zubia scored the only goals of the third for a 6-4 halftime lead.

In the fourth, Biddle smashed the ball into the goal, then scored a two pointer. Zubia answered with a Penalty 2 and a field goal but Biddle struck again to tie the score at 8-8. Escapite put Spiculus ahead just before the bell. A defensive battle ensued in the fifth, limiting the scoring to a Penalty 3 from Biddle, knotting the score a 9-all going into the final chukker.

Biddle sunk a Penalty 3 early in the sixth, then scored from the field. Merlos knocked in a goal with a minute and half left but a two pointer from Biddle gave Spartacus the 13-10 win and the big check. The match was filmed by NBC Sports and broadcast five days later, on February 28, following a NHL hockey game.

The fourth match in the series featured Crixus up against a whole new Priscus team, featuring Facundo Obregon, Nic Roldan and Julio Arellano. Arellano jumped out with the first goal but a costly foul gave Matias Magrini a chance for two points with a Penalty 4, which he scored. Roldan ended the chukker with a goal. Arellano scored the only goal of the second and a pair of goals in the third. Magrini and Obregon traded Penalty 3 conversions ending the half with Priscus ahead 6-3.

Obregon and Roldan sandwiched goals around a Penalty 3 from Magrini to widen the gap to four but Torres got Crixus back in the game with a two pointer then a field goal. Ahead by one, Priscus dominated the fifth, with each member scoring, including a two-pointer from Roldan. Torres got on the board late in the period to end the fifth with Crixus trailing 12-8.

Crixus fought back in the sixth with Torres and Magrini each hammering home two-pointers to knot the score at 12- all with the clock ticking down. With less than a minute left, Obregon scooped up the ball and sent it to goal for the 13-12 Priscus win. Nic Roldan was named MVP.

Crixus was back at it the following week, this time against Spiculus, that had Mariano Obregon taking Juan Martin Zubia’s place. The goals were also changed, building them out and adding netting like other sports such as soccer, hockey and lacrosse.

Merlos put Spiculus on the board early, but his goal was matched by Magrini. Obregon finished the chukker with a goal, giving Priscus a narrow 2-1 lead. Magrini’s Penalty 2 and two-point Penalty 4 in the second put Crixus in the lead but a two pointer by Escapite tied it up. Magrini and Merlos traded goals to end the second knotted at 5-5. Spiculus took control in the third with each member scoring twice, while Crixus failed to reach the goal.

A kids’ exhibition match was played at the halftime break with Spiculus (Santos Merlos, Kristos Magrini, Miguelito Novillo Astrada) taking a 3-1 win over Crixus (Landon Daniels, Hope Arellano, Hunter Azzaro).

With the adults back in the arena, neither team scored in the fourth, leaving Spiculus comfortably on top 11-5. Merlos and Azzaro swapped goals in the fifth but a two pointer by Merlos stretched Spiculus’ lead to 14-6 heading into the final period. Crixus clawed its way back in the sixth with the team scoring a goal a minute, but it wasn’t enough and Spiculus took the 15-11 win, along with the check.

Spartacus was back in the irons on March 31 for its match against Priscus, that was restructured once again. This time Jeff Hall teamed up with Nic Roldan and Facundo Obregon. A fairly even first half had Obregon and Crowder trading goals in the first. A two pointer and a Penalty 3 off the mallet of Biddle put Spartacus on top but another goal by Roldan kept it close. Biddle knocked in another Penalty 3 and Roldan struck again ending the half with Spartacus ahead 5-3.

The teams kept pace in the fourth, with each counting three goals. Roldan and Biddle traded Penalty 3s in the fifth and a two pointer by Obregon tied the score at 9-all going into the last period. Crowder and Obregon traded goals before Spartacus let loose. Biddle found the goal with a Penalty 3 and a two pointer. Viana sandwiched a pair of two pointers around a goal from Crowder and before you knew it, Spartacus had doubled its score in a matter of minutes. Roldan finished the chukker with a goal but it was a drop in the bucket as Spartacus took the win and the riches.

The win also secured Spartacus’ spot in the final against Spiculus and a chance at the lion’s share of the $50,000 prize. The 24-goal Spartacus team was the only one to go undefeated to that point and 23-goal Spiculus’ only loss came at the hands of Spartacus. The crowd anticipated a fight-to-the-finish rematch, though Spartacus was generally favored to win.

The games were played on the flat and Spiculus knew it had to keep Spartacus from getting the momentum. Pelon Escapite wasted no time in getting Spiculus on the board with a Penalty 2 conversion and teammate Sebi Merlos followed with a two-pointer. Felipe Viana put Spartacus on the board late in the chukker. A two-pointer by Viana in the second tied the score at 3-all. It was the only goal of the second, with both teams focusing on defense.

That all changed in the third, as Merlos shot from 250-feet for a twopointer, bringing the crowd to its feet. Escapite scored two in a row, one a twopointer and Merlos added another twopointer for a 10-3 lead. While it seemed Spiculus couldn’t miss, Spartacus struggled. Viana shot another two-pointer to end the third down 10-5.

Escapite was the work horse and reached the goal three times in the fourth, one a two-pointer. Biddle, who had been quieter than normal came to life in the third with a pair of goals, one a Penalty 2 conversion. Spartacus trailed 14-7 at the end of the fourth.

Spartacus seemed to be spinning its wheels, while Spiculus kept hammering away. Merlos found the goal twice more to widen the spread to nine goals. Viana found the mark twice, one a two pointer, to cut the deficit to six, but Merlos shot to goal once more to put the game out of reach. Merlos and Escapite scored six goals a piece for Spiculus, including several two pointers. Viana led Spartacus with five goals including three two pointers. Biddle, who was good for nine points in the last battle with Spiculus, was held to two this time.

Spiculus was rewarded with $34,500 and the players’ names engraved on the grand Gladiator trophy. Spartacus took $15,500 in the loss. Merlos was named Most Valuable Player.

He said, “We lost to them in our second game by a few goals. That day Tommy had an amazing game. We learned from that and knew what we had to do. Today we worked well together.”

“This is incredibly exciting for our sport. High-goal arena polo is faster paced than its outdoor counterpart due to the smaller size of the playing field and the added element the side boards bring to the game,” said Puetz. “We haven’t seen an organized high-goal arena polo league since LA’s pro pool in the 80s. Spectators are more engaged in the game and feel the intensity of the players from a new perspective.”

Bellissimo was happy with the concept. “The sport evolved every week. We did little tweaks to make the game more exciting, and I think the crowd tonight was fantastic—they were really engaging. Unlike a lot of equestrian competitions in general, the crowd was clapping at great plays and paying attention the whole time. I think the level of sport was remarkable and I think this is going to grow.”

Overall, the matches drew large crowds and Bellissimo indicated 100 people had inquired about polo lessons on the polo horse simulator. Further, NBC Sports has shown interest in broadcasting next year’s series.

"Next year, we are going to have eight teams with team owners and a draft, so the teams will be formulated that way. We are hoping to do a heavily televised circuit with shows each week for 10 weeks,” said Bellissimo. “I think this is great traction to use both nationally and internationally.”

– By Gwen Rizzo • Photos by David Lominska/Polographics