The third jewel of Aiken's Triple Crown – Pacers and Polo – will return to Aiken this weekend after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19.
The 17th annual community event, hosted by alumni, donors and friends of USC Aiken in partnership with the Aiken Polo Club, will be held on Saturday, April 2, at the Powderhouse Polo Field at 820 Powderhouse Road S.E.
Gates open at 10:30 a.m., and the event starts at 1 p.m. In the event of rain, the event will be rescheduled for Sunday, April 3.
Pacers and Polo is the final leg rounding out Aiken's Triple Crown after the Aiken Trials and the Aiken Spring Steeplechase.
The event features an opening ceremony, six seven-minute chukkers, a 20-minute intermission and an awards ceremony at the end of the match.
Pacers and Polo is also a significant fundraiser for USCA athletic scholarships.
Mary Driscoll, vice chancellor for advancement and external affairs at USCA, expressed her excitement at the event's return.
"We are thrilled that Pacers and Polo is back this year and have incorporated it into our 60th-anniversary celebrations," Driscoll said in a news release. "We remain grateful for our longtime partnership with the Aiken Polo Club and their president Charlie Bostwick."
Various ticket options are available.
VIP hospitality tent tickets may be purchased by calling the USCA Office of Advancement at 803-641-3518. Tickets are $90. VIP admission parking is included. Join USCA Chancellor Daniel Heimmermann in the VIP tent and enjoy catered lunch, complimentary beverages, an open bar, silent auction, admission to the event, a program, railside VIP viewing and seating, the Winner's Circle and a complimentary photograph. Lunch will be served beginning at 11:30 a.m., and the silent auction will be from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. White Rose Eclectics is sponsoring a hat contest for guests and will have items available for purchase in the VIP Tent.
Margaret Horne, 4, of Lexington, shows off the fancy footwork that won her the title of No. 1 Divot Stomper during halftime at Pacers and Polo in this 2018 file photo.
Guests should note that a photo ID will be required for alcohol consumption, and the bar will close after the fifth chukker. A VIP ticket is valid for one admission only and will be exchanged for a wristband upon entry to the VIP tent. A ticket is required for every entrant regardless of age. No pets, baby strollers or smoking are permitted in the VIP tent area.
General admission tickets may be purchased by calling the USCA Athletic Department at 803-641-3486 or 803-641-3331; All Star Tents and Events at 176 Bettis Academy Road, Graniteville; the H. Odell Weeks Activities Center at 1700 Whiskey Road; Lionel Smith Ltd. at 132 Laurens St.; and the USCA Athletics Department at 2049 Champion Way, Graniteville.
Tickets purchased before the event are $8 for adults and $5 for children. Children 6 and younger are admitted at no charge. Tickets purchased at the event are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Children 6 and younger are admitted at no charge. General admission parking is $5 per car and includes one souvenir program per car.
Reserved First Row Parking is $115 per car and includes four general admission tickets and programs. To reserve a railside parking space, call the USCA Athletic Department at 803-641-3331.
For more information, visit usca.edu/events/pacers-and-polo.
