AIKEN - Most of the spectators who flanked the sidelines of the Powderhouse Polo Field for the third leg of Aiken's Triple Crown were eager to explain the finer points of polo to those enjoying their first look at the sport.
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Polo players compete in the final leg of the Aiken Triple Crown at the Powderhouse Polo Field.
Mike Adams/Special
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Sandy Wagoner was one of the teachers.
"There are no left-handed polo players; did you know that?" she said to Becky Christian, a friend who was attending her first polo match.
Most of those at Sunday's event, like Ms. Wagoner, had returned to the second-year tournament with a significantly better understanding of the rules that govern the game.
"The average person here is an emerging polo enthusiast," University of South Carolina Aiken Chancellor Tom Hallman said.
Heavy rains that left the playing field too soggy for competition forced organizers to postpone the polo match, which benefits USC Aiken's athletics department, from Saturday to Sunday. Attendance appeared substantially lower than at last year's inaugural event, which drew about 5,000 people.
Organizers revamped the format this year, replacing last year's round-robin style game with a winner-take-all match between two teams instead of three.
"The new format makes it a little easier to understand for the spectators," Athletics Director Randy Warrick said. "It's easier for the players, too, because they would get cold while they had to sit out and then would have to come back in the game."
Although the crowd was smaller, the fanfare was not. A VIP tent with an open bar and lunch from Outback Steakhouse was assembled to accommodate 600 patrons, about 200 more than last year.
Diehard fans and novices alike seemed thrilled to rush the 300-yard polo field during halftime to participate in a little divot stomping, an activity in which spectators repair the divots in the field left by the polo ponies' hooves.
Seven-year-old Stephanie Klarman eyed the brown patches of overturned turf on the field and quickly went to work. She wanted to repair at least 15 divots, but her slip-on sandals posed a problem.
"Next time I'll wear sneakers because they won't fall off while I'm stomping," she said.
Reach Krista Zilizi at (803) 648-1395, ext. 106, or krista.zilizi@augustachronicle.com.
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