The United States Polo Association announced the full fixtures for the 2021 CV Whitney Cup, the first leg of the Gauntlet of Polo, also known as the American Triple Crown. The competition is set to kick off on Wednesday, February 17, and conclude on March 7 with the finals. Nine teams, up to 22 goals, will be split into three brackets. After playing their leagues, teams will be ranked, with the top team advancing straight to the semifinals. The remaining eight teams will play a third game with the following match-ups: 2 vs. 9 / 3 vs. 8 / 4 vs. 7 / 5 vs. 6. The top three winners will advance to the semifinals. Semifinal pairings will be drawn.

Among some of the most significant contenders will be La Indiana, recent winners of the 2020 USPA Gold Cup; Pilot, winners of the first ever Gauntlet of Polo in 2019; and Adolfo Cambiaso’s comeback after two seasons playing the World Polo League. Cambiaso will be playing alongside his son, Poroto Cambiaso, and 2019 Queen’s Cup winner David Paradice. Several of the most important patrons on the polo circuit, such as Stewart Armstrong, Chip Campbell, Gillian Johnston, Michael Bickford, Andrey Borodin, Will Johnston and Jeff Hildebrand will also be competing. 

A new feature of the GAUNTLET in 2021, in partnership with USPA Global Licensing, will see each team select one of 10 non-profit polo organisations to support. Teams can either select one charity to support throughout the three tournaments, or choose a new one every tournament. The charities selected by the winner and runners-up of the C.V. Whitney Cup will each receive a $5,000 donation.

GAUNTLET OF POLO 2021 – CALENDAR

CV WHITNEY CUP: Feb. 17 – March 7. Prize: $125,000.

USPA GOLD CUP: March 10-28. Prize: $125,000.

US OPEN POLO CHAMPIONSHIP: March 31 – April 18. Prize: $250,000.

GAUNTLET OF POLO 2021 – TEAMS

BRACKET I

SCONE: David Paradice 0, Peke González 6, Poroto Cambiaso 6, Adolfo Cambiaso 10.

CESSNA: Chip Campbell 2, Nino Obregon 7, Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario 7, Jared Zenni 6.

SANTA CLARA: Will Johnston 2, Miguel Novillo Astrada 9, Felipe Vercellino 6, Luis Escobar 5.

BRACKET II

COCA-COLA: Gillian Johnston 1, Julián de Lusarreta 8, Nico Pieres 9, Mackenzie Weisz 4.

PILOT: Curtis Pilot 0, Kristos Magrini 2, Gonzalo Pieres 10, Facundo Pieres 10.

TONKAWA: Jeff Hildebrand 0, Cody Ellis 3, Francisco Elizalde 9, Sapo Caset 10.

BRACKET III

PARK PLACE: Andrey Borodin 0, Matt Coppola 4, Juan Britos 8, Hilario Ulloa 10.

LA INDIANA: Michael Bickford 2, Nico Escobar 4, Jeff Hall 6, Polito Pieres 10.

ASPEN / DUTTA CORP: Stewart Armstrong 3, Lucas Díaz Alberdi 6, Gringo Colombres 8, Timmy Dutta 4.

CV WHITNEY CUP 2021 – FULL FIXTURE:

Wednesday, February 17:

11am: Coca Cola vs. Pilot

Thursday, February 18:

11am: Santa Clara vs. Cessna

3pm: Park Place vs. La Indiana

Saturday, February 20:

11am: Coca Cola vs. Tonkawa

Sunday, February 21:

10am: Park Place vs. Aspen-Dutta Corp

3pm: Scone vs. Santa Clara

Wednesday, February 24:

11am: Cessna vs. Scone

3pm: Pilot vs Tonkawa 

Thursday, February 25:

11am: La Indiana vs. Aspen-Dutta Corp

Saturday, February 27:

10am: Third Round Game

3pm: Third Round Game

Sunday, February 28:

10am: Third Round Game

3pm: Third Round Game

Wednesday, March 3:

11am & 3pm: CV Whitney Cup Semifinals

Thursday, March 4:

11am & 3pm: CV Whitney Subsidiary Semifinals

Sunday, March 7:

CV WHITNEY CUP FINALS

The Gauntlet of Polo will be streamed by GLOBAL POLO.