Polo, Anyone?

What better pairing than polo and champagne? The horsey set put on their summer hats and raised a glass at the Veuve Clicquot Robert Skene Cup championship match held at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club. Sapphire skies, emerald grass, dahlias in shades of ruby red, diamond-backed mountain vistas, and men and women on horseback smacking the ball with authority (it helped that they really know how to swing the mallet). A gem of a good time. Team Lucchese (with the highest-ranked player, 9-goaler Mike Azzaro) won the first match and Team Patagones took the cup. I had many cups. This is one sport I can truly appreciate.