Lakewood Ranch's Ashley McLeod was breathing hard as she just finished racing her 4-year-old son Caspian Reeves on the Sarasota Polo Club field.
She said the polo match was the perfect place to be on New Year's Day as the Sarasota Polo Club opened its season.
"To me, this is the best thing in the area for a family to do on a Sunday," McLeod said. "This is going to be our second full season."
Lakewood Ranch's Karen Mannering and Deborah Rahman said they both have been attending the Sunday polo matches for three years.
"I've been coming to about 50% of the matches," Mannering said. "Everyone is so friendly so I meet a lot of people. And this is such a unique experience."
Rahman agreed.
"To experience nature always is a good thing," Rahman said. "And the horses are beautiful."
Claire Dornak of North South Wealth Management/Ranch Hand tries to pass the ball down the field as Barefield/Hawkwood's Vasco Iriate challenges her in the season opener at the Sarasota Polo Club Jan. 1.
Photo by Jay Heater
Barefield/Hawkwood's Leandro Berrios unleashes a shot during the season opener at the Sarasota Polo Club on New Year's Day.
Photo by Jay Heater
Paige Lautzenheiser rings in the new year by presenting the colors at the Sarasota Polo Club on New Year's Day.
Photo by Jay Heater
Lakewood Ranch's Irene Kosse and Helen Kosse celebrate New Year's Day at the Sarasota Polo Club.
Photo by Jay Heater
North South Wealth Management/Ranch Hand's Alan Martinez and Stuart Campbell acknowledge the crowd during opening day at the Sarasota Polo Club.
Photo by Jay Heater
Lakewood Ranch's Brandi Joyner and Jennifer Palladino squared off in a game of cornhole along the sideline at the Sarasota Polo Club.
Photo by Jay Heater
Leandro Berrios controls the ball and rushes up the field for Barefield/Hawkwood during the Sarasota Polo Club's opener.
Photo by Jay Heater
Placida's Richard and Patricia Bossey were the first patrons to reserve a spot in the new Hemingway English bus. They had a great view on the bus's upper deck.
Photo by Jay Heater
Myakka City's Corrina Nietz and Parrish's Sharon O'Donnell tend bar in the imported Hemingway London bus that made its debut Jan. 1 during the Sarasota Polo Club's season opener.
Photo by Jay Heater
Barefield/Hawkwood's Vasco Iriate and Leandro Berrios talk strategy during the Sarasota Polo Club's season opener Jan. 1.
Photo by Jay Heater
Hanna Hornung of North South Wealth Management/Ranch Hand winds up to let a shot fly in the Sarasota Polo Club season opener.
Photo by Jay Heater
Claire Dornak of North South Wealth Management/Ranch Hand, zips a shot past Barefield/Hawkwood's Vasco Iriate.
Photo by Jay Heater
Alan Martinez of the North South Wealth Management/Ranch Hand team obviously is happy to be back in action as the Sarasota Polo Club opened its new season Jan. 1.
Photo by Jay Heater
Greg and Deb Frank of Lakewood Ranch have a cushy seat at midfield for the 2023 Sarasota Polo Club season opener.
Photo by Jay Heater
Stuart Campbell of North South wealth Management/Ranch Hand fires a shot in the Sarasota Polo Club's 2023 season opener.
Photo by Jay Heater
Before the horses take the playing field at the Sarasota Polo Club, fans are allowed to enjoy the field. Lakewood Ranch 4-year-old Caspian Reeves tries to outrun his mom, Ashley McLeod.
Photo by Jay Heater
The only thing better than watching the horses and athletes at the Sarasota Polo Club is tailgating.
Photo by Jay Heater
Stuart Campbell of the North South Wealth Management/Ranch Hand team waves to the crowd during the opening parade of the 2023 Sarasota Polo Club season on Jan. 1, 2023.
Photo by Jay Heater
Paige Lautzenheiser carries the American flag during the opening parade of the Sarasota Polo Club 2023 season.
Photo by Jay Heater
Karen Mannering and Deborah Rahman, both of Lakewood Ranch, toast a new year while enjoying polo on Jan. 1.
Photo by Jay Heater
Trent Compton os Lakewood Ranch drew the job of flipping burgers and hot dogs for his group on opening day at the Sarasota Polo Club Jan. 1.
Photo by Jay Heater
Coleen Phillips of Dunedin, Dottie DeCarlo of Longboat Key and Angela Gaster of Waterlefe have their Sarasota Polo Club opening day spread all ready.
Photo by Jay Heater
Hanna Hornung of North South Wealth Management/Ranch Hand takes a shot in the Sarasota Polo Club season opener.
Photo by Jay Heater
Alan Martinez of North South Wealth Management/Ranch Hand does a little trick, bouncing the ball up and down on his mallet during pregame warmups.
Photo by Jay Heater
Claire Dornak of the North South Wealth Management/Ranch Hand team watches her long shot down the field in the Sarasota Polo Club's season opener.
Photo by Jay Heater
Paige Lautzenheiser, the director of operations at the Sarasota Polo Club, opens the 2023 season by presenting the colors in the opening parade on Jan. 1.
Jay Heater is the managing editor of the East County Observer. Overall, he has been in the business more than 41 years, 26 spent at the Contra Costa Times in the San Francisco Bay area as a sportswriter covering college football and basketball, boxing and horse racing.
