East Coast Open
Tournament History
The East Coast Open was first played in 1978 at Myopia Polo Club in Hamilton, Massachusetts. The trophy used for the event, known as the Perry Trophy, designed by Oscar L. Lanz, was first awarded in 1905 and retired by Myopia Polo Club in 1909. Per tournament stipulations at the time, if a team won the competition three times within five years, they would keep the coveted trophy. Myopia accomplished this prior to WWI and thus owned the trophy.
It was then put into use in 1978, when Donald V. Little Sr. established the East Coast Open at Myopia Polo Club. The tournament remained at Myopia for 25 consecutive years until 2003. Throughout the ‘80s and early ‘90s the East Coast Open boasted an average of 10 teams each year. Just two years after creating his own club, Peter Brant’s White Birch garnered their first East Coat Open title, of a record 12 total wins to date. White Birch repeated their win the following year against an impressive field of 13 teams, a tournament record.
In 2005, the East Coast Open moved to the renowned Greenwich Polo Club in Greenwich, Connecticut. Over the past 10 years, White Birch has dominated competition with nine wins; including a notable five-year streak from 2005-2009. .
This year, four teams will descend on Greenwich Polo Club to compete in the Northeast’s most prestigious high-goal tournament. Both Audi and Postage Stamp Farm will be returning to the field, alongside Work to Ride and Iconica. Missing from the action this year is White Birch, opening up the field to a potential first time East Coast Open champion. Many of the world’s top polo competitors, teams and players will be vying for their inscription on the Perry Trophy, amongst Hall of Famers such as Adam Snow, Hector Galindo, Owen Rinehart and Guillermo “Memo” Gracida.
Photo: 2017 East Coast Open Champions: GSA - (L to R) Henry Porter, Santino Magrini, Toro Ruiz, Matias Magrini. ©Peter T. Michaelis
