Atlanta’s love for style and community found a shared spotlight at the ninth annual Atlanta Fashion & Polo Classic. Held September 19 at Bouckaert Farm in Fairburn, the event brought its signature mix of fashion and polo back to metro Atlanta, with a mission that extended beyond the celebration.

Presented by the Miguel Wilson Collection and the Ride to the Olympics Foundation, the Classic was part of ATL Now’s local event coverage. At its heart was a commitment to opening doors for young people from underrepresented communities to experience equestrian sports.

For founder and celebrity fashion designer Miguel Wilson, that purpose has guided the event’s growth.

“The heartbeat of this event will always be the impact that we are making with these young riders. They are at the center of all of this,” Wilson said in a statement released ahead of the event.

That mission puts the Morehouse Polo Club and Atlanta B.E.S.T. Academy Polo Team at the center of the Classic’s story. Both were included in this year’s announced polo lineup, alongside a visiting Nigerian team, underscoring the event’s connection to expanding Black participation in the sport.

According to the foundation, the Morehouse Polo Club debuted at the second annual Classic as the first HBCU polo team and earned U.S. Polo Association certification in 2020. The Atlanta B.E.S.T. Academy team, developed through a partnership with the foundation, the academy, and 100 Black Men of Atlanta, was introduced at last year’s event as the nation’s first all-Black high school polo team registered with the association.

Those programs give the Classic a deeper significance: a connection between Atlanta’s social scene and opportunities for the next generation of riders.

Entertainment was also a major part of the ninth-year event’s appeal. Organizers announced singer, songwriter, and actor Tyrese as the featured performer, with a special guest roster that included Frank Ski, Kenny Burns, Bryan-Michael Cox, Clifton Powell, Rob Riley, Pastor Troy, and Red Grant. The planned experience paired polo with gourmet food, signature cocktails, and three main party tents.

Bentley Atlanta, Ben Crump Law, and Indigo Road Realty were named as presenting sponsors supporting this year’s celebration. Organizers also identified the Classic as the primary fundraiser for the Ride to the Olympics Foundation, with event proceeds designated to support its work.

Founded in 2017, the foundation helps young people explore equestrian sports, fashion, and leadership development. Its mission reaches beyond introducing students to riding: it aims to reduce the barriers that can keep them from participating in disciplines such as polo, show jumping, and dressage.

For ATL Now’s audience, the story of the Atlanta Fashion & Polo Classic is as much about access as it is about style. In its ninth year, the event’s defining purpose remained clear—using a celebration of culture to help more young people see a place for themselves in equestrian sports.

Learn more about the event at Fashion & Polo Classic (https://fashionandpoloclassic.com/) and its charitable mission through the Ride to the Olympics Foundation (https://www.ridetotheolympics.org/).