Charity Polo Event Benefits The American Friends of The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry and Polo Training Center of Santa Barbara
(CARPINTERIA, CA) July 14, 2011 – The Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club is pleased to announce the successful completion of The Foundation Polo Challenge this past weekend at their legendary polo grounds in Carpinteria, CA.

The second stop on their tour of California, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were flown to the pristine grounds by helicopter, where they were immediately greeted by Ambassador Glen Holden.

“In the 38 years that I have been a Trustee of the Santa Barbara Polo Club we have never had anything that has created as much excitement and pleasure as the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge last Saturday.  I have had calls and emails from all over the city and throughout the world of polo complimenting the Santa Barbara Polo Club on this spectacular event.”

From there, the couple proceeded down the red carpet alongside the world’s polo elite and A List celebrities including Rosario Dawson, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Joe Jonas, Molly Sims, Rob Lowe and more. After a gourmet three-course luncheon by Chef Giada De Laurentiis, Prince William saddled up and led his team, Team Royal Salute, to victory by scoring four goals in the last two chukkers.

“It was great to meet the Duke and Duchess- they are a very humble, down to earth and obviously in love.  They're perfect Ambassadors for the UK and they clearly believe passionately in the causes they are looking to support,” said Wesley Ru, President of the Club.

The Foundation Polo Challenge only added to an already full itinerary of fabulous summer events held at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club. Following the royal visit, on Sunday July 10, the Club featured the opening match for the Beluga Robert Skene Trophy with special celebrity appearance by Cash Money Recording artist T Lopez who gave the audience chills with her renditions of the National Anthem and America the Beautiful.

“There was still so much buzz about the royal visit when I sang the Anthem for the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club. It’s such a beautiful Club, I can see why it was on their list of stops in the U.S,” said T Lopez.

This Friday, the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club is thrilled to continue their Centennial festivities by hosting the President of the Moscow Polo Club and his family for the Moscow vs. Santa Barbara Polo exhibition match followed by a VIP celebration sponsored by Beluga Vodka.

Fans of the Duke and Duchess can even enjoy their own royal wedding brought in part by Icing on the Ring and the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club. Slated for the unforgettable date of 11-11-11 is a $100k Wedding Giveaway including everything one could ever ask for on...