HIGH FLYING PASSION

In the recent Netflix documentary “Polo”, audiences around the world are taken on a journey many of us in Palm Beach County are lucky enough to experience first-hand.The National Polo Center hosts the world’s best players for tournaments from December through April, including presti-gious events like the CV Whitney Cup, the Gold Cup, and the US Open Championship. Each winter, players from across the globe make the pilgrimage to Wellington for a chance to compete at this elite level.Players with names like Cambiaso (yes, there are two of them ranked 1st and 2nd in the world), Pieres, Gonzalez, Nero, Ulloa, and others saddle up their strings to compete on Field One every Sunday for a cup, a title, and, of course, a champagne shower.Over the last 5 years, a young and charismatic player has risen through the in-ternational ranks, supported by his father—a former player and now team Patron. His name is Timmy Dutta.

At just 24, Timmy has emerged as one of the sport’s brightest stars. Trained as a jumper from the age of 7, Timmy’s love of horses ran through that of his father, a former player and his mother, a decorated dressage rider. But at the age of 12, “Big Tim”, who has built a global horse transportation business, took his son out to stick and ball and the pre-teen fell in love with the sport of polo. Tim Sr. quickly recognized his son’s growing passion for polo and encouraged him to pursue it to its fullest extent.Timmy puts it this way: “I am enamored by the art of the game of polo, the horses, and the comradery between teammates.”By learning from some of the best players in the world, Timmy found himself competing in 20-goal tournaments at Grand Champions Polo Club and the International Polo Center by the age of 15.“It’s a true pleasure to play at the highest level of the game. Obviously, I was nervous as a kid playing with some of the top players in our sport, but being on the same field as those players automatically makes you think better and improves you every time you play at that level.” Timmy shares.Typically, Timmy main-tains a rotation of around 14 horses. For daily workouts, he carefully selects 5-10 mounts, paying meticulous attention to their physical well-being, nutrition, and overall care.“I am in love with horses. I am truly grateful to be able to work with horses every day. My favorite ponies are Diamante, Mr. Musty, Adam, and Toscano. They are incredible animals with hearts of gold. They truly take care of me and make me a better person and player”. Timmy explains.Timmy credits his family for his success: “My father is very passionate about the game. I love my father and without his support, I wouldn’t be playing at this level. He only wants to see me succeed.”

In December, Timmy’s talent, good looks, and undeniable passion made him one of the central figures in the Netflix documentary “Polo”. The series chronicles the journey to the U.S. Open Polo Championship in Wellington during the 2024 season. Filming brought cameras into the Dutta family’s home, capturing their hectic yet focused lives—from the barn to the field and even around the family kitchen table.“I hope the Netflix documen-tary brings new people into our sport and allows us to grow and thrive as well as brings a spotlight to our beloved horses in which we care for day in and day out”.Polo is constantly changing year over year with new sponsors and players emerging in the high goal arena and as it becomes more popular through coverage on not only regional television but across the world on ESPN and now Netflix.Dutta looks ahead as he hopes to continue improving and becoming the best he can be as a player and businessman, alongside his father.The 2025 season promises to be another thrilling chapter for Team Dutta as Timmy will once again team up with some of the world’s best players as they compete for cups and championships in their continuing quest for polo greatness—one chukker at a time.