July 2017: The Palio

The Giraffe

July 2017 - The Palio by Elisa LovatiConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

The 34th victory of the Giraffe

With its latest success in the Palio run on July 2, 2017 the Contrada della Giraffa (the Giraffe) has achieved the 34th victory of its history. 

July 2017 - The Palio by Mauro GuerriniConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

The four days of the Palio were characterized by new and stricter security measures, including the unprecedented limit to the number of people accessing the square.

July 2017 - The Palio by Elisa LovatiConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

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July 2017 - The Palio by Elisa LovatiConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

July 2017 - The Palio by Mauro GuerriniConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

July 2017 - The Palio by Mauro GuerriniConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

July 2017 - The Palio by Mauro AgnesoniConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

July 2017 - The Palio by Mauro AgnesoniConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

July 2017 - The Palio by Mauro AgnesoniConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

July 2017 - The Palio by Mauro AgnesoniConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

Moreover, the race was marked by the rare case concerning the horse assigned to the Contrada della Tartuca (the Turtle): the horse so strongly refused to align itself with the other horses along the starting line (the socalled “mossa”) that, after a long consultation with the veterinarians, the Contrada decided not to take part in the race.

July 2017 - The Palio by Mauro GuerriniConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

For this reason there were only nine Contrade (and not ten how it usually happens) competing for the silk banned called “Drappellone”.

July 2017 - The Palio by Elisa LovatiConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

July 2017 - The Palio by Mauro AgnesoniConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

The quickest horses at the start were those of Selva (Forest), Torre (Tower), Aquila (Eagle) and Giraffa (Giraffe) but after the first turn (San Martino) it was the latter that took the lead and eventually won despite the efforts from Aquila.

July 2017 - The Palio by Elisa LovatiConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

July 2017 - The Palio by Elisa LovatiConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

July 2017 - The Palio by Mauro GuerriniConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

July 2017 - The Palio by Elisa LovatiConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

July 2017 - The Palio by Elisa LovatiConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

July 2017 - The Palio by Mauro GuerriniConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

July 2017 - The Palio by Elisa LovatiConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

July 2017 - The Palio by Mauro AgnesoniConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

July 2017 - The Palio by Mauro AgnesoniConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

July 2017 - The Palio by Mauro AgnesoniConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

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July 2017 - The Palio by Mauro GuerriniConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

July 2017 - The Palio by Mauro AgnesoniConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

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July 2017 - The Palio by Mauro AgnesoniConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

July 2017 - The Palio by Elisa LovatiConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

Though the victory was only the first for the horse, Sarbana, it was the fifth for the jockey Jonathan Bartoletti, and more importantly his third consecutive one, which not only attests his great skills, but also rightly places him among the most important jockeys in the history of the Palio.

July 2017 - The Palio by Mauro GuerriniConsorzio Per La Tutela Del Palio Di Siena

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