The feast of St Catherine of Siena yesterday reminded me that every year there is a famous horse race called the palio (it means the race prize) in the Campo or central square of Siena city in Italy. It is a bareback race for 10 horses and jockey representing 10 districts of Siena. It is held twice a year since medieval times. I was lucky enough to be there for one such occasion in 1985. The competition is deadly.
I was praying in and admiring the Cathedral there that morning when a finely adorned horse was led in by a handful of men for a blessing. I had never seen a horse inside a church before. As I was walking along a cobbled street after the race I was met by one of the horses, his rider and a few hundred excited supporters. I stepped aside smartly!
The race itself goes about three times around the main square which has barriers put up to keep the spectators outside and the horses inside. It is dangerous and usually one or two horses fall (or are caused to fall) and sometimes have to be put down. The people in the houses around the square have the best seats of course but the thousands of people present make a great din as soon as the race has begun. It is a great and glorious victory not just for the horse, rider and owner who win but for the whole district.
by Fr. Frank Hoare
