The world series of the 105th US Open Polo Championship, the most prestigious and oldest polo tournament in the United States, was disrupted when 14 magnificent polo ponies, valued at up to $200,000 each, stumbled disorientated and dizzy out of their trailers and one by one, collapsed onto the grass. Officials bent over backwards in an effort to ascertain what really happened.
In spite of vets pouring water onto the feverish animals, 14 horsed died 45 minutes before the game was to commence. Blue tarps were hastily erected to shield the dying horses from the ultra-rich, well dressed, champagne drinking crowd. Rumours tore like wild-fire, as the announcement came to replace the featured tournament game with an exhibition game.
Dr Scott Swerdlin, a veterinarian at the Palm Beach Equine Club, treated some of the sick horses. He said “It appeared the animals died of heart failure. It may have been caused by some kind of toxin that could have come from tainted food, vitamins, or supplements, or a combination of something given in error to the horses.” It could take weeks before the toxicology tests are in.
More horses died overnight until 21 of the Venezuelan-owned horses, belonging to the Lechuza Caracas polo team, were dead. While some officials from the International Palm Beach Polo Club said the horses may have been killed by some type of poison, others believed the deaths were purely accidental. Still others said it was a reaction to a steroid derivative that may have been tainted with a cleaning solution. The shots are thought to have been administered by an Argentine vet, not licensed in the United States.
Reclusive middle aged multimillionaire Victor Vargas, the owner, as well as a player in the Lechuza Caracas polo team, is said to have openly wept as he held dying horses. Scott Swerdlin, said: “Vargas is very enthusiastic about polo. He loves to play and hang out with the players. He gives great parties for the groom and the players. They’re all like his family.”
The Lechuza Caracas team has played in the US Open every year since 1999 and was a favourite to win the title. The team included around 40 thoroughbreds, players and horses mainly being Argentinean. The team spends the major part of the year travelling.
There have been no public comments since the death of the horses. In spite of his outgoing nature, Vargas is a very private person. According to the North American Polo League website, Vargas has various banking and oil holdings in the US, Venezuela, Panama and the Dominican Republic. The site reports that he is also president of the Venezuelan Bank Association and director of the Latin American Banks Federation.
“The reaction throughout the polo community worldwide has been one of disbelief and grief,” said Coppola, the Palm Beach Polo Club announcer. The tournament resumed after three days.
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Tags: 21 horses die at polo match, latest news, Lechuza Caracas polo team, US open polo match, Victor Vargas
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April 21st, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Reclusive Multimillionaire, World Standard Polo Game, Poison And A Death Field?…
Reclusive multimillionaire, 21 dead horses, world standard polo game and poison? Sounds like the ingredients for a great mystery movie. Instead it is a tragic real life story….