Italy’s most famous historical horserace in Siena held one of its two annual races this past Saturday, and victory went to the Caterpillar (Bruco) team.
The horserace is held in the central Piazza del Campo of Siena and is a competition between various neighbourhoods of the city. Thousands of visitors fill the piazza and the surrounding city streets during the races, and the city celebrates a moment of general merry-making as festivities accompany the event for days before and after the actual race.
This year’s win was the ninth for jockey Luigi Bruschelli. He had the race won from the start, riding ahead of the others for its duration.
For a traditionally heated race that oftentimes causes horses and riders to fall and be injured, only two jockeys fell from their horses this year, and although one rider was knocked unconscious for a few moments, he was released from the hospital later that day without any serious injuries.
This year’s second and last race is scheduled for August 16.
