Colts Hope to Make It 3 Polo Titles in a Row

With a crack of the mallet and the groan of leather, the American Polo League opens its spring season tonight at the Los Angeles Equestrian and Polo Center in Burbank.

The Los Angeles Colts, winners of two straight championships, will take on the New York Thoroughbreds at 8 p.m. in the center’s Equidome indoor polo arena, 480 Riverside Drive. A semipro exhibition game starts at 7 p.m.

Winning a third consecutive championship won’t be easy for the Colts; star horseman Ronnie Tongg left the team during the off-season and has been replaced by Herman Louis Decoit, a player who isn’t as highly rated.

“Winning the championship is never easy, and repeating is even tougher,” says Ron Mracky, a spokesman for the league. “But win or lose, it’s tough to beat arena polo for speed, skill and excitement.”

Faster-Paced, More Contact

Arena polo is faster-paced and has more bodily contact than traditional outdoor polo. It’s played on a dirt arena the same size as a football field, and a low wall surrounding the playing area helps to keep the ball almost constantly in play.

Outdoor polo is played on a field 12 times as large--which makes it a poor spectator sport--and the games are often stopped because there are no retaining walls to keep the ball from going out of bounds.

Each team fields three players, and they roam about trying to knock the ball through their opponents’ goal. A game consists of six five-minute “chukkers,” or playing periods.

Umpires keep watch for illegal contact and dangerous riding. A foul is called on a rider who violates the rules; the clock is stopped and the opposing team is awarded a free shot at the goal.

One common foul occurs when a rider bumps an opponent’s horse at a sharp angle. Another occurs when a rider is chasing after the ball and an opponent dangerously cuts in front of him.

About 20 goals are scored in a typical arena polo game. Like racehorses, the teams are handicapped: Because the Colts are rated slightly higher than the Thoroughbreds, they must spot the New Yorkers a one-point lead.

General admission seats are $7.50; reserved seats are $12.50, and box seats next to the playing field are $20. Dress ranges from Levi’s to minks.

The Colts will play at the Equidome nearly every Saturday night through July 2. The championship game will be played July 9, and the winner will carry off the coveted Cadillac Cup.