Nacho Figueras, Councilman Curtis Jones and Kareem Rosser with two of the Work to Ride polo ponies. Credit Suzanne Bush
Polo. It’s not just for Newport anymore! Think polo and a cheesesteak, or polo and Rocky, or polo and the Reading Terminal Market. Think polo in Fairmount Park.
The First Annual Philadelphia Polo Classic will be held there on September 24, 2022. Save that date. “I’ve been dreaming of this day and this event for a very long time,” explained Kareem Rosser, a decorated polo player, an author, a financial analyst and a graduate of Philadelphia’s legendary Work to Ride (WTR) program. “I’ve been fortunate enough to participate in other events around the world, but to be able to bring something like this to my own hometown and to be able to do it with an organization that changed my life; that means so much to me, it’s very special.”
WTR is the iconic equestrian program in Fairmount Park, founded in 1994 by Lezlie Hiner. The non-profit has been a lifeline for young people in Philadelphia’s under-resourced communities. The program offers young people—ages 7 to 18—riding lessons in exchange for their commitment to work (i.e., shovel manure, among other important duties), to keep their school grades up and to return after graduating from the program to mentor other youngsters.
At a March press conference at Chamounix Equestrian Center—home of WTR—Rosser and Nacho Figueras joined Hiner, City Councilman Curtis Jones and Parks and Recreation Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell to announce details of the Polo Classic, which will raise money for WTR, and to celebrate WTR’s many success stories. Figueras is one of the world’s most accomplished polo players, in addition to being a model and actor. He is a longtime friend of Rosser and supporter of WTR.
“I first met Kareem in 2006,” Figueras said. “I met him and a couple of the kids in the WTR program in Virginia. Lezlie was there with her ‘children,’ being the wonderful person that she is, helping all these amazing children in Virginia watching us grownups play polo. It’s a moment I will never forget.” He and Rosser look at the Polo Classic as the beginning of a new chapter for both Philadelphia and WTR. “We set as our goal to play polo in the park in Philadelphia,” Figueras said. “We would love for the people of Philadelphia to get involved.”
A Miracle on Chamounix Drive
Commissioner Lovell praised WTR’s programs and its founder. “There’s no one like Lezlie Hiner,” she said, “we’re so grateful for what she has been able to do, this miracle that she has created here.” She noted that this will be the first time polo will be played in Fairmount Park. “It’s beyond our wildest dreams. When you know the organization behind it—this small, scrappy, incredible, extraordinary organization that has always punched above its weight.” She explained that polo is only a fraction of what WTR does. “Horses,” she said, “are just the vehicles” to help the kids achieve their potential.
Councilman Jones celebrated what he called “recreational diversity,” and how much it adds to the city’s economy and attraction as a destination. “Whether you row, run or ride your way into success, it’s a pathway to prosperity. Whether it’s the Dad Vail Regatta, whether it’s the Penn Relays, now you add to that triple crown, polo, where people from all over the world will come to an urban environment to experience the sport of kings,” he said, and added slightly hyperbolically, “Where else could a West Philadelphia kid meet an Argentinian and become lifelong friends? Only through sports, and we’re grateful that happened.”
It's About More Than Polo
Rosser says that the Classic will have four teams and two matches, and current WTR students will be on the teams. “The feature match will be myself, my younger brother Daymar and—fortunately or unfortunately—we’ll be going against Nacho.” For Rosser, though, this event is more than a polo match against his good friend. “It’s a special day for Philly. We get to bring something to the city that it desperately needs right now.” He considers the trajectory of his young life and how polo has affected him. “At eight years old I began my journey here as a student. I’m so grateful for everything the organization has done for me. Being around horses has allowed me to see life differently. It means everything to me.”
Figueras says he has never seen a program like WTR, and he’s glad to be playing a part in its future. “I think that Lezlie’s a hero in this world, and this is a place everyone in Philadelphia should be proud of. I believe that Kareem is proof that this program should be celebrated. This place should be celebrated.” He is hoping that the Classic will inspire Philadelphia. “We would love for the people of Philadelphia to get involved,” he said. “I can’t wait for this place (WTR) to be what Lezlie dreamed about. This is my first time here, and it almost brought tears to my eyes to walk into the barn. I have been part of this story for a very long time, but being here today was a special moment in my life.”