07.27.2025: Crouse Health Polo for Preemies @ Skaneateles Polo Club

How fitting is it that the sport of kings and nobility rides in support of Syracuse's smallest and most fragile babies? Approximately 500 people didn't let the heavy rains of Sunday morning dissuade them from making the trek to the Skaneateles Polo Club for the 2025 edition of the Crouse Health Polo for Preemies fundraiser. In spite of the heat, people were dressed to impress. Hats of all shapes and sizes were in abundance.

The event raises money to benefit the Crouse Health’s Baker Regional NICU, where each year more than 1000 of the most medically delicate babies in Syracuse receive care. In their first weeks and moths of life, these babies face incredible medical challenges, earning them the nickname of Little Fighters. These Little Fighters can be born weighing less than than a fourth of what an average full term baby weighs. They may battle living with lungs not yet ready to breath air, brain bleeds, and infections. Their parents may have to wait months until they can bring their babies home. To put it simply: the NICU saves lives.!

While polo was the headliner, there were plenty of other activities for the whole family. For kids there were pony rides available for purchase as well as bounce houses and other games. For the adults there were games of chance like Plinko, a blind wine pull and a silent auction with many prize packages up for grabs. Refreshments were plentiful with was a bar, food trucks, and ice cream. To top it off attendees even had the opportunity to get photos with Coach Autry and the SU men's basketball team.

The polo was a full match, played on a field the size of 9 football fields, and broken into four periods (known in polo as chukkers) of seven and a half minutes each. There was even play by play announcing! You didn't have to be a polo veteran to enjoy it. The announcer made sure to explain the rules in addition to calling the game. The crowd was even encouraged to ask any questions and the answers were given over the PA to benefit all spectators. The spectators were not just passive observers either. Per Polo tradition, at halftime the spectators served as groundskeepers, marching across the playing field replacing and stomping divots.

The final game of the day was the Needle in the Hay competition where people competed to literally find a knitting needle hidden in hay bale. People bought tickets for the chance to compete, and the finder of the needle won a silver bracelet donated by Hayden Jewelers. The winner was ecstatic!

Although as of press time the total raised had not been announced, by every visible measure it sure looked to be a success! Want to help it's not too late! Go and give here: https://www.crouse.org/give/donatenow/

See more of what you missed at Polo for Preemies!

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