The Victory Cup is a polo tournament—on overdrive! Spectators can learn more about this high-octane game, watch three matches, show off their most fabulous hats and accessories, stomp the divots and peruse a craft brewer's festival.

Oh, and there's hot air balloon rides, food tasting and entertainment for kids. Special passes also are available for a spectacular Farm to Table Dinner with the polo players. The 14th annual Victory Cup Farm Bash & Craft Brewer's Festival is hitting Patterson, New York, on Saturday, July 14 to raise money for Purple Heart Homes. Click here for complete schedule and here for ticket information.

As the event website says:

In its fourteenth year, this event isn’t just a polo match; it’s a networking and social destination drawing thousands for each event.

Which leads us to this question:

With all the excitement,

who is the real star of the Victory Cup?

The Players: These athletes, in teams of four, strive to make as many goals as possible within two hours on a field roughly the size of nine football fields, according to the Museum of Polo. They have to be excellent riders, keep a cool head, and have a slim and agile physique, Gentleman's Journal states.

The Ponies: They're not really ponies; they are full-sized horses "selected for quick bursts of speed, stamina, agility and maneuverability," the Museum of Polo explains. They are rotated out of the game as they tire but are trained to respond to commands from their rider's hands, legs and weight.

The Crazy Hats: The Victory Cup celebrates fashion similar to what you might associate with the Kentucky Derby: loud, colorful hats; bold accessories; pretty dresses. (Find attire suggestions, such as avoiding high heels, here.)