The Sport of Kings: Hickory Hall Polo Club offers unique spectacles, fundraisers for the whole family

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Boone County residents don’t have to travel far to witness the “sport of kings.” Polo matches are frequent spectacles at the Hickory Hall Polo Club in Whitestown.

Media Coordinator Audra Poe said Hickory Hall Polo Club, at 7551 East 100 North,  has been in existence for 19 years.

“We have facilitated the contribution of about $3.5 million to central Indiana charities over the last 19 years,” Poe said. “This year, we have 15 dates scheduled on the calendar between June and October supporting 18 different charities.”

Hickory Hall Polo Club is operated by a board of family members.

Polo is played on horseback, with four players on each team. Matches consists of four to six chukkers, or periods, each lasting 7 1/2 minutes. Although riders can play the entire match, horses (usually thoroughbreds) are swapped out between chukkers to give them a rest. The objective is to score goals by using a long-handled mallet to hit a small ball through the opposing team’s goal. Matches are played on a field that is 300 yards long and 160 yards wide.

Polo horses have either been raised to play the sport or are ex-race horses trained to play polo.

Owner Greg Chandler founded the club 28 years ago and moved to the current location 19 years ago because he needed a bigger field to accommodate more fans. Chandler said the organization was developed with the intention to help local charities in Boone, Marion and Hamilton counties. 

“We did utilize the charities because a lot of people have not seen the sport ever before and it’s a unique way for people to come out, relax and see something neat with their kids and raise money for charities,” Chandler said.
Chandler said he grew up around polo when his dad started a team in 1970. 

“Polo has been around here for a long time, just nobody really publicized it and used it for charities until my wife and I decided to,” he said. “Anybody was welcome to come, but if you didn’t know about it, you weren’t going to show up. It’s so much better now that we have publicized it (with the charities).”

Matches include charity events with silent and/or live auctions. LA Café sells food and beverages. Barn tours are offered so attendees can see players and horses up close.

“Obviously, it’s a great spectator sport for children as well,” Chandler said. “Most people bring kids. We do have an airplane that flies over and throws candy out in parachutes and kids run out on the field and have fun with that.”

Matches last approxiametly 1 1/2 hours. Admission is $20 per vehicle.

“We don’t want to prevent anybody, we want everybody to come,” Chandler said. “It’s not a snooty kind of a sport at all, it’s completely the contrary. It’s very family oriented and open, and we interact a lot with the players and we interact a lot with the crowd.”

The Hickory Hall Polo Club has approximately 18 players.

“This is a philanthropic opportunity,” Poe said. “A lot of people come to support the charity of their choice, and other people just like to come because of the social aspect of it. They bring picnics and tailgate, and children and dogs are welcome. It’s really a fun social event as well as supporting local organizations.”

Typically, events are held on Friday nights and approximately 1,000 people attend. Poe said the Hickory Hall Polo Club is the only outdoor polo club in central Indiana.

“We have players come from Louisville to play with our club,” she said. “It’s a unique sport for the Midwest.”

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Hickory Hall Polo Club conducts polo matches, played on horseback, to benefit local charities. (Submitted photos)

Upcoming polo matches

  • July 12: 6 to 9 p.m., benefitting Make-A-Wish
  • July 19: 6 to 9 p.m., benefitting Knights of Columbus Council
  • July 26: 6 to 9 p.m., benefitting zWorks and Boys and Girls Club of Boone County
  • July 27: Noon, benefitting Heart and Soul Clinic
  • Aug. 2: 6 to 9 p.m., benefitting Indiana Children’s Wish Fund
  • Aug. 9: 6 to 9 p.m., benefitting Progress House
  • Aug. 16: 6 to 9 p.m., benefitting Hendricks Regional Health Foundation
  • Aug. 24: 5 to 9:30 p.m., at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, benefitting the Indianapolis Mounted Police Association
  • Aug. 30: 6 to 9 p.m., benefitting Special Olympics Indiana
  • Sept. 6: 6 to 9 p.m., benefitting Hemophilia of Indiana and Tuberous Sclerosis of Indiana
  • Sept. 13: 6 to 9 p.m., benefitting Folds of Honor-Indiana
  • Sept. 20: 6 to 9 p.m., benefitting Craine House and Circle City Clubhouse
  • Sept. 27: 6 to 9 p.m., benefitting the Chandler family’s charity of choice
  • Sept. 28: 1 to 4 p.m., benefitting Indiana Hands & Voices

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