A Horse dramatically died at Bridgehampton Polo Saturday as Chris Del Gatto’s team Circa and Nacho Figueras’ squad faced off in front of the VIP crowds. Spies said that a $100,000 polo pony collapsed during play beneath a Circa rider.
After the first two weekends of polo were rained out, the latest incident added even more drama to the well-heeled event that was taken over this year by Figueras and Peter Brant, who are aiming to usher in a more exclusive era.
“The horse suddenly dropped,” a spy told us. “Luckily the rider managed to jump off, and was OK. Everyone was very upset. What happened can be dangerous, and it’s lucky no one was hurt.”
An event rep confirmed the incident, saying: “Polo is an extreme sport, and the horses are extreme athletes. The care and well-being of these horses is the most important part of polo to all involved in the sport. There is always a chance of injury to either horse or rider, as in all equestrian disciplines. There is always a vet on-site . . . there were two on this particular day.” Sources said the horse was 11 years old and died of a heart attack.
“It was a tough game,” Del Gatto told us. “Whenever any of us lose a horse, it’s very difficult. I don’t know a player that doesn’t love horses, and it’s not easy when we lose one. They give us their all playing a very dangerous game for both horse and rider.”
Circa beat Figueras’ team 12-11 at the match, where Rosanna Scotto threw out the first ball.
The Del Gatto-Figueras polo rivalry is known to be heated. “I like to think that they call polo the sport of kings because we’re warriors on the field, but gentlemen off it,” Del Gatto said.
The latest polo drama was buzzed about later at a Southampton Hospital gala, where guests included Del Gatto and model girlfriend Veronica Webb, Jean Shafiroff, Douglas Elliman’s Howard Lorber and Lisa Simonsen and gala chair Laura Lofaro Freeman. Rudy and Judith Giuliani were meant to attend as guests of Somers and Jonathan Farkas, but a spy told us Hizzoner couldn’t make it because he’s joined Mitt Romney on the campaign trail.