Polo General Information
WHERE IS THE DOOMBEN POLO FIELD?
The Doomben Polo Fields are located inside Doomben Racecourse.
Entry is via Gate 2, Nudgee Road, Ascot.
The Doomben Polo Field is 7.2 kilometres or 10 minutes from Brisbane City and 5.5 kilometres or 5 minutes from Brisbane Airport.
Trains: From any railway station in the CBD take the Doomben line.
It is a ten minute walk from here.
Buses: The 301 travels to Hampden Street for access to Doomben Racecourse, it is a short walk around to the polo entrance.
Taxis: Taxis are permitted to drive into the venue. It is best to ask them to drive you around the track to the main polo field entrance.
Car Parking: Car parking is provided at all Doomben Polo events. It is usually around the perimter of the polo field.Additional parking is available available across the road at Eagle Farm Racecourse.
Visit http://www.translink.com.au for further transport information and timetables.
WHAT DO YOU WEAR TO THE POLO
"Sophisticated and tailored day wear"
Polo is a stylish outdoor event and subject to weather. Linen Jackets, ties and sundresses are valid options. Footwear should be practical – high heels are not a smart choice due to grassed areas for the majority of the event. Racing style hats will look out of place, though more casual headwear is often worn.
Visit our facebook page to view guests at previous events
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO 'STOMP THE DIVOTS'?
Divot stomping is a long standing tradition at half-time or between games. Spectators wander all over the field, stomping down the torn up turf. It's fun and you can meet great people just wandering the field. Even at high goal tournaments, the players often stomp the divots to keep limber at the half, you can say hello to the stars of the show! A feature of some events is to have a prize for 'Stomping of the Divots'. This is when something is hidden on the field for spectators to find.
ABOUT THE GAME
Modern polo is played between two teams of four, on a field 300 yards by 160 yards, with posts on either end delineating a goal that is eight yards wide.
The winner is the team that scores the most goals in a six-period game. Each period, also known as a chukker, is seven minutes long.
Each of the four players is given a zone of responsibility. The numbers worn on the jerseys, the "Polo Shirts" indicate that zone – number 1 is the most forward, and number 4 the most defensive. By custom, number 3 is the on-field captain, and usually the highest-rated player on the team.
Typically, each player uses a different horse in each of the six chukkers. And although the horses are traditionally called ponies, among present-day players the two terms are used interchangeably, much as "game" and "match" are used to mean the same thing. If a horse appears to be tiring before the end of a chukker, the player may switch horses. But, as time-outs are not given on request, the player who wants to change his pony must pick a time when there is a lull in the action, make it to the sidelines, change horse, and make it back on to the field before play resumes.
Goals are switched after each score to equalize the conditions of weather, terrain and lighting.
