Staff Reports | Happenings & Events
He’s played on major polo stages and faced top international competitors, but now Wales Polo Team Captain Ricky Cooper is preparing for a different kind of challenge: a race against a 2026 Bentley GT.
Riding his trusted polo pony, Mr. Cooper will compete in a first-of-its-kind matchup during the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships, event organizers tell the Digital Free Press.
The race is scheduled to take place Saturday, Nov. 8, between matches at WestWorld of Scottsdale during the two-day event. The contest will pit horsepower against horsepower in a head-to-head display of speed and spectacle.
“The Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships have a history of pushing the envelope, and this race is sure to take things to an entirely new level,” said Mr. Cooper. “It’ll be fast, it’ll be fun, and it’ll redefine everything fans think they know about polo,” Mr. Cooper said.
Mr. Cooper will also take the field alongside teammates Matias Amaya and Mikey Henderson as part of the Wales Polo Team, founded in 2008 under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Charles (now King Charles III). The team will face defending champions Wine Country/Napa Valley Polo Club at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Additional matches include the first-ever Army vs. Navy showdown at noon Saturday, followed by Battle of the Sexes and International All-Stars matches at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday, respectively.
The weekend will also feature returning and new attractions, including:
- Canine Couture Fashion Show by Lugari Pet Salon
- World’s Longest Catwalk by Phoenix Fashion Week
- Casamigos DayClub
- Barrett-Jackson Champagne & Jazz Lounge, now with an open-air format
- WestWorld Art & Wine Experience, featuring live music, 100 nationally juried artists and gourmet food and wine
“While the polo matches are the heart of this event, we’ve always striven to create experiences fans can’t find anywhere else,” said Jason Rose, co-founder of the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships. “Seeing Ricky Cooper go head-to-head against a Bentley definitely falls into this category, and it’s something fans will be talking about long after the dust settles on the field.”
