Captured on Cobblestones in Sienna, Italy

My Scholarship entry - A 'place' I have visited

AUSTRALIA | Sunday, 13 January 2013 | Views [299] | View Larger Image

After hours of crowd pleasing marching parades and flag throwing the jockeys attempt to line the horses up on a rope to begin the race. One horse that faltered more than a few times was disqualified to the great disappointment of its contrada.

Each contrada holds its own dinner to firstly celebrate being selected (ten contradas compete and names are drawn like a lottery from a hat) and secondly for the hope of being the winning contrada, a great honour. There are seventeen contradas and only ten compete.
The official table seats the jockey (far right), the contrada president (middle), the trainer and some town officlals as well as the local residents from their contrada donning their blue contrada flags and tourists, who pay a pretty penny for the privillege to attend.

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The winner on the Onda (Wave) horse rounds the bend, bareback and hanging on tight. A scary sight when you are viewing from the stands and showered in dust and dirt from the track as they pass.

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Captured on Cobblestones in Sienna, Italy

My Scholarship entry - A 'place' I have visited

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