Amidst the thrill and bustle of the FIP Arena World Cup tournament the Virginia Polo Club held an evening event for alumni, students and parents to get together and celebrate the new Holden Outdoor Arena at the Virginia Polo Center. Honored guests at the event were Jeep Holden whose generous support made the rebuilt a reality, and Catherine Benson, representing the Breeden Family whose original gift of land created a permanent home for the Virginia Polo Club.

FIP Arena Polo World Championship Day 1 at the Holden Arena at the Virginia Polo Center © Oana Moore

The decision to replace, rather than repair, the arena was made in fall 2024 by the Virginia Polo Board of Directors. Upon discussion it was concluded that rather than continuing to repair the outdoor arena piecemeal, after 40 years of use it was time to fully replace it. In order to take on this large endeavour, alumni support was needed. Jeep Holden led the charge in supporting the project. Jeep’s father, Glen Holden, Sr. was instrumental to the creation of the first Federation of International Polo (FIP) tournament, which held special significance as the first polo competition to be held in the new arena would be FIP Arena World Championship games.

The Holden Family has a long and generous history with the Virginia Polo Club, providing support to past initiatives. Jeep is a 1976 graduate of the University of Virginia and past men’s team player. The family has long been connected to polo; Jeep’s grandfather played in the early 20th century, followed by Jeep’s father Glen Holden Sr., Jeep himself, and his son Glen “G3” Holden from their family base in California.

Glen Sr.’s 80th birthday celebration with his family, his wife Sharon, Glen Sr. G3, and Jeep on the far right in Santa Barbara.

Along with a passion for polo, father Glen and son Jeep also shared a passion for supporting polo by serving on the United States Polo Association’s board, generous philanthropy, and many years of volunteering their time and expertise. Jeep himself was among the members of the USPA board who envisioned the Polo Development Initiative (PDI) Grant, a significant source of financial support to clubs around the country, including Va Polo. In this way Jeep not only supported the Holden Arena project directly with his generous gift, but also indirectly, the USPA’s PDI Grant was the second largest source of support for the rebuild.

The Holden family’s legacy of support has been majorly impactful to the Virginia Polo Club and we are extremely grateful for Jeep’s support of this facility improvement. His leadership gift made the project possible, and even more importantly, his gift made it possible for the club to begin work on the arena without tapping into the Virginia Polo Endowment. As we keep our eyes on the future and longevity of the club, we strive to protect the Endowment to allow it to grow with time and ensure generations to come will benefit from what our incredible alumni have accomplished at Virginia Polo.

The evening provided a valuable opportunity for Virginia Polo alumni of all generations to reconnect and spend time with current students in the program. In addition to great conversation, students witnessed firsthand the rewards of giving back to the college polo program they love. The lasting friendships among alumni from the 1970’s served as a powerful reminder of how meaningful continued involvement can be throughout a player’s life and how the polo club can continue to bring joy to alumni long after graduation.

Virginia Polo Alumni from the 1970’s and longtime friends Greg Johnson, Peter Henderson, Jeep Holden and Dede D’Orsi in front of the Holden Arena at the Virginia Polo Center.

Guest of honor Catherine Benson, from Forest Lodge next door, represented the Breeden Family. Her grandfather, I.J. Breeden made the foundational gift of land that provided a permanent home for the Virginia Polo Club. Benson was presented with a pewter platter engraved with the words “In Commemoration of the Breeden Family’s Foundational Gift of Land.” It was a welcome opportunity for members of the Board of Directors and student players to get to meet Catherine and learn the important role her family played in the creation of the Virginia Polo Center. Her grandfather’s remarkable generosity began in 1980 with a donation of 50 acres to the UVA Alumni Association for the use of the Virginia Polo Club, followed by an additional 25 acres in 1983. This foundational gift was made possible through the efforts and stewardship of Virginia Polo stalwarts Dick “Remo” Riemenschneider and Rodger Rinehart Sr.

The relationship with Benson remains both vital and benevolent as she leases us the extensive back fields that the club relies on for year-round polo pony turnout. We were delighted to have her with us to celebrate this milestone for the club and meet more of the students players and see how deeply alumni cherish the program.