Owner James Miller never would let the Sarasota Polo Club in Lakewood Ranch go to the dogs.
Except for Jan. 31.
Dottie DeCarlo, the owner of Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming, held the Woofminster Dog Show at halftime of the polo match.
The show, which was held for the third consecutive year, was a competition in which dogs wore their most fun costumes. It's all done to raise funds and awareness for the Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch.
"It's going to be chaos," DeCarlo said with a laugh.
Indeed, dog owners had their hands full funneling their best friends to the stage to be judged at halftime. But all the dogs seemed to be on their best behavior and the chore was accomplished.
Share Guests bet it all during Sisterhood for Good fundraiser at the Sarasota Polo Club on Jan. 15.
Sisterhood for Good of Lakewood Ranch rolled the dice to raise money for charity in the "Vegas Comes To The Ranch" event at the Sarasota Polo Club in Lakewood Ranch Jan. 15.
The nonprofit's members and friends turned out for a night of drinks, music, and casino gambling. Event co-chairwomen Peggy Kronus, Angela Massaro-Fain and Lori Ruth welcomed guests while board chair Amy Gorman passed out awards later in the night.
Proceeds raised at the event went to the group's annual grant program, which benefits local nonprofits.
Two Southwest Florida developments ranked in the top 5 best-selling master-planned communities in the nation.
Lakewood Ranch in Manatee and Sarasota counties and Wellen Park in North Port were ranked No. 2 and No. 4, respectively, on John Burns Real Estate Consulting and the RCLCO lists of the 50 top-selling master-planned communities in the country.
Lakewood Ranch ranked second in the nation with 2,149 home sales in 2020, up 30% from the 1,648 sold in 2019. The 33,000-acre community features miles of trails and paths, parks offering a disc golf course, watercraft launches and dog parks along with nationally recognized sports venues like the Premier Sports Campus and the Sarasota Polo Club.
OTTB-Turned-Police Horse Celebrates Retirement After 17 Years Of Service Sponsored by:
Valor and Major, both horses with the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, have been retired after years of service to the community. Valor is a 28-year-old off-track Thoroughbred who was donated to the sheriff's office 17 years ago. Valor worked the Super Bowl and the Republican National Convention; he was also deployed to Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina. Among his many accolades was being named the 2017 The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program Thoroughbred of the Year.
Major is a 19-year-old Hanoverian trained in dressage who was donated to the sheriff's office by a community member. Major also worked the Republican National Convention; he has also worked the Florida Classic and other high-profile events.
Epic Equine's Francisco Llosa reaches for a shot in the season opener.Buy this Photo
Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020 | The players didn't deliver the usual high fives to fans before the match to stay socially distanced.Buy this Photo
Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020 | Sarasota's Mary Kathryn France, the Miss Orlando Outstanding Teen, sings the National Anthem before the season-opening game.Buy this Photo
Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020 | Lakewood Ranch's Carol Edgar, Amaya Edgar, Mia Edgar and Lisa Bruno were enjoying season packages on the north sideline.Buy this Photo
Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020 | Lake Club's Amilia Dragovoy, 4, and Mya Medford, 5, are neighbors who enjoy a little dance on the polo field before the game.Buy this Photo
3 months ago Share Lakewood Ranch teens combine to plan the Well Wishes Benefit Polo Match at the Sarasota Polo Club to raise funds to build wells in Africa.
Ian Campbell, a 6-foot-3 junior at Cardinal Mooney High who plays both football and lacrosse, knows it's difficult to focus in class when you are hungry.
Imagine how hard it is for students in Zambia to study when they live with hunger every day.
Campbell, who lives in the Polo Club in Lakewood Ranch, has seen the effects of poverty often when he travels with his family to Africa. His father, Stuart Campbell, was born in South Africa while his mom, Victoria Campbell, was born in Zimbabwe.