The C.V. Whitney Cup is one of the most prestigious high-goal polo tournaments in the United States and the world. Organized by the United States Polo Association (USPA), it traditionally inaugurates the American Triple Crown season, currently known as The Gauntlet of Polo, played in Wellington, Florida.
The tournament was originally established in 1979 under the name "U.S. Handicap" and debuted at the Retama Polo Center in San Antonio, Texas. In 1988, the tournament was renamed in honor of Cornelius Vanderbilt "Sonny" Whitney, a pivotal figure in the development of polo in the United States, a three-time winner of the U.S. Open Polo Championship, and a member of the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame.
The competition was created to serve as the premier high-level preparatory tournament before the USPA Gold Cup and the U.S. Open Polo Championship.
The Cup is played at a demanding 22-goal handicap level, which historically guarantees the participation of the best players and sports organizations in the international circuit. As an example of the elite level that characterizes the competition, the 2009 edition featured the following prominent teams and players:
| Team | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 | Player 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audi | Facundo Pieres | Gonzalo Pieres | Frederick Mannix | Marc Ganzi |
| Las Monjitas | Eduardo Novillo Astrada | Ignacio Novillo Astrada | Adam Snow | Camilo Bautista |
| Pony Express | Matias Magrini | David Stirling | Nicolas Roldan | Bob Daniels |
| Lechuza Caracas | Juan Martin Nero | Guillermo Caset | Nicolas Español | Victor Vargas |
| White Birch | Mariano Aguerre | Francisco Bensadon | Jeff Blake | Peter Brant |
| Zacara | Cristian Laprida | Carlos Gracida | Jeff Hall | Lyndon Lea |
| Orchard Hill | Pablo Mac Donough | Lucas Criado | Hector Galindo | Steve Van Andel |
Throughout its history, the tournament has been conquered by some of the most important polo organizations in the world. The following are the champion teams in notable editions, according to official USPA and press records:
| Year | Champion Team | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Tulsa | |
| 1980 | Tulsa | |
| 1988 | Ft. Lauderdale | |
| 1989 | Ft. Lauderdale | |
| 1995 | White Birch | |
| 1996 | White Birch | |
| 1999 | Lechuza Caracas | |
| 2000 | White Birch | |
| 2001 | White Birch | |
| 2002 | Lechuza Caracas | |
| 2005 | White Birch | |
| 2007 | Lechuza Caracas | |
| 2011 | Lechuza Caracas | |
| 2012 | Valiente | |
| 2014 | Valiente | |
| 2017 | Valiente | |
| 2018 | Valiente | |
| 2019 | Pilot | |
| 2021 | Park Place | |
| 2022 | Park Place | |
| 2023 | Valiente | |
| 2024 | Valiente | |
| 2025 | La Dolfina | |
| 2026 | The Dutta Corp |