The famous Palio horse race in Siena has been postponed from last night to today due to bad weather. The clay course on the Piazza del campo was turned to mud by a torrential storm. The Palio should have taken place yesterday at 7:15 p.m.
Since the Middle Ages, twice a year (July 2nd and August 16th) the districts of Siena have competed in the horse race in the main square, Piazza del Campo, which lasts just a minute and a half. The square has to be circumnavigated three times. In the breakneck race, one of the bareback horses can also win if it finishes without the rider.
Italian animal welfare associations have repeatedly criticized the Siena Palio, as horses often slip, fall and fatally injure themselves on the pavement. Organizations then filed complaints of animal abuse with the Siena judicial authorities.