Cowdray Park Polo Club announces a new programme for Quarter Finals weekend of the 2019 King Power Gold Cup.
On Sunday 14thJuly, the inaugural Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Memorial Trophy will be played as the 3.00 pm match to mark the tragic loss of King Power Chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in a helicopter crash at the King Power football stadium in Leicester in October 2018. A new trophy has been commissioned and will be presented to the winning team. This all-important fourth quarter final match of the weekend will be preceded by a programme of entertainment to both encompass Vichai’s sporting passions and to also celebrate the life of the philanthrophic Thai businessman.
Amongst the entertainment planned is a children’s football match between local boys and girls making up a Leicester City and a Midhurst team in King Power’s home and away shirts. To recognise Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s passion for equestrian sport, there will also be a parade of some of his race-horses, planned to include the King Power stables’ Cleonte,winner of the Queen Alexandra Stakes on the final day of Ascot 2019.
The King Power Foxes polo team won the Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship in 2015, 2016 and 2017, having first entered the Gold Cup in 2014. In 2018 Cowdray Park Polo Club was delighted to see King Power take over sponsorship of the prestigious 22 goal British Open in a three year contract. Vichai Srivaddhahaprabha loved the friendly and laid-back atmosphere at Cowdray Park and the club is keen to mark his polo legacy by making his Memorial Trophy a permanent fixture of the Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship.
On Saturday 13thJuly, the afternoon’s 3.00 pm match will be the Hungarian Ambassador’s Cup, played for a second year in front of guests of His Excellency Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky, who will be presenting the handsome trophy he commissioned in 2018.
The four winning teams in the Quarter Finals go forward to the Semi Finals to be played on Wednesday 17thJuly with the Final taking place on Sunday 21stJuly. For more information, please visit www.cowdraypolo.co.uk.