Mischief With Mallets

The Saratoga Polo Club was established in 1898. and is one of the four oldest clubs in the nation. Polo is a 2500-year-old game played on horseback on a field that is 300 yards long and 160 yards wide. To get to the polo field: Going north on Route 87, take exit 15 and turn left at the end of the exit ramp onto Route 50. Follow Route 50 through 6 traffic lights into downtown Saratoga Springs. At the seventh traffic light, take a right onto Church Street. Follow Church Street through two traffic lights and take a right onto Seward Street. Follow Seward Street until you come to a railroad overpass. Take your first hard right onto Bloomfield Road. The Player's Club Member Gate is the first driveway on the left, and the General Admission Gate is the second driveway on the left, approximately 500 yards.
There are four players to a team. Each player has a certain position that they maintain on the field, and can usually be found there. Even if you're not up on all the rules in the Blue Book, you may see a player commit a foul by racing over for the ball and cross in front of his opponent. This may result in a crossing violation if a player's right of way is impeded. If the umpires rule that it is, a penalty shot will be awarded. Also, a penalty may be called for hooking a player with the mallet intentionally. However, the opposing player's mallet may be hooked while he is in the act of hitting the ball.
Note between chukkers (periods) how quickly players go to the trailers, change to fresh ponies and come back on the field. Half-time (after the third chukker) provides a good opportunity to participate in replacing divots - the only sport where spectators are invited to actually enter the playing field. Time your letterboxing accordingly: Polo matches begin in mid-June and take place Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday Nights at 5:30 p.m. Facing the General Admission entrance, look left. Follow the chain link fence. It ends between the second and third tree. Look at the base of the fence. No logbook. No ink.