Veteran jockey Giovanni Atzeni, known as Tittia, rode the bay gelding Diodoro, making his Palio debut, to lead from start to finish in the iconic medieval bareback horse race. The event, a 90-second surge of adrenaline, saw Tittia charge three times around the central Piazza del Campo, cheered on by fervent locals and throngs of Italian and international tourists.

The win marked Tittia’s 11th Palio triumph in 40 races, his previous victory having come in July 2023. He is now edging closer to the record of 14 wins held by local legend Andrea de Gortes, known as Aceto, the king of 20th-century Palio competitions.

This year’s first Palio was postponed from its traditional date of July 2, the feast of the Madonna di Provenzano, to whom the race is dedicated, due to heavy rain that rendered the tuff track impassable.

The Palio, meaning “banner”, dates back to the 13th century and remains one of Italy’s most colourful and historic spectacles. However, newcomers to the event are often shocked by its intensity, violence and the fierce inter-neighbourhood rivalries it stirs.

Thursday’s race seemed destined for trouble during the pre-race lineup, as repeated jostling forced the mossiere (starter) to call back the mounts four times. But Tittia’s dominant ride, which left all but one rival trailing behind rather than engaging in the usual bumping and shoving, helped avoid major incidents.

Jockeys from ten of Siena’s 17 contrade, or neighbourhoods, compete for the coveted silk banner in a thrilling one-and-a-half-minute dash around the Piazza del Campo. The sole rule in the competition is that jockeys, or fantini, must not grab the reins of their rivals. Beyond that, whipping a competitor’s horse or even unseating another jockey is permitted.

Victory goes to the first horse to complete three laps of the square, even if it crosses the finish line without its rider, in which case it is termed scosso.

Siena’s signature race famously served as the backdrop for the opening chase sequence of the 2008 James Bond film Quantum of Solace.

The chaotic spectacle draws thousands of visitors each year, many of whom remain unaware of the toll the race takes on the horses. Animal rights activists have long campaigned to ban the Palio, condemning it as cruel, lacking in true sporting skill and posing dangers to horses, jockeys and spectators alike.

More than 50 horses have died on the course since 1970.

ANSA