The Palio in Siena
This event dates back to the days when Pontius Pilate was flogging cheap roadside Greek sandals on the Appian Way.
It's cool because:
- It's run in the city square.
- Each horse.rider combo represents a district of the town.
- Insults fill the air like the aroma of cat pee at my sister Stella's condo.
- The riders ride bareback.
- The event is cause for many feasts and celebrations.
- The USA nannies would never allow such a race in... say... Detroit.
What does the winner get? A free rigatoni lunch?
ReplyDeleteThat is cool, and I like the wipeouts. What is a good race w/o wipeouts?
I am chuckling re: Detroit ... I can see it, with NEA union captains from each public school as officials.
I do like the idea of it. It would bring community back to neighborhoods. I am guessing that whatever prize is won is nothing compared to being a local hero. Even risking the competition would set apart the men from the boys.
ReplyDeleteAs for Detroit, I think they have something like it. They are called gangs. Different rules, but thankfully only people get hurt. *grumbles*
Nickie - Detroit has something very similar to this. It occurs after Thanksgiving and is called "Black Friday at Walmart's." The women are much bigger than the Italian horses and there's a lot more gunfire.
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ReplyDeleteIt's cool because the miserabilst Righteous want to ban it (for the sake of the hooooorsees, bless).
ReplyDeleteThis video made me so emotional, I almost dropped my meatball. No, Sig, that is not a euphemism.
ReplyDeleteDC... You could hold the thing in Flint and race the horses around Michael Moore.
ReplyDeleteDoom... If they did all their drive-byes on a horse, it might lend the town a little class.
ReplyDeleteBanned... they're gonna ban breathing soon. I'm not joking. Of course, that'll be after they figure out how to tax breathing.
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