Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-21
RACING HORSEMEN
WHIP EACH OTHER
Furnishing Lash Used on
Riders Alike in italian
Contest.

masked ball, a masquerade dance
familiar enough--but did YOU ever see a
costume horse race?
Siena, Italy, has one annually. and
has Just announced this years event
for July 2.
The strange, almost barbaric, horse
race Is run SIS feature OF historic
siena's annual civic festival, known as
the PABLO.
Horsemen Ride Bareback.
In Communication to the National
Geographic Society, Marie Louise Hand
ley describes this strange race. She
writes:
The horsemen ride bareback in the
PABLO. armed with Furnishing whip.
the nerbo. made of twisted. hardened
OK sinew and measuring about feet.
This whip plays an important role.
I'm the olden days a long flexible one
was used, and the competitors were
allowed to WELD it so as to entangle
their opponents and throw them, but
this practice is now forbidden.
The good Sienese. however, anxious
to preserve the joustlike character of
the race, have decreed that their cham
pions may belabor one another with
Vic IlCdNJ LCIUO WLCLlCNCI Ille CLLdIlCG
presents. To prevent fatal injury, the
men are permitted to wear metal hell
NETS, but, even So the faying weapons
sometimes inf1ict wounds the marks of
which are carried for weeks.
mo sooner does the starting gun
sound than the excited jockeys begin
10 ply their whips, and the resultant
spectacle may be imaginable high
strung, fear-craZed horses racing furi-
busly around the hard, slippery stone
paved course; 10 riders reckleSsly urging
their mounts to greater speed and rain
ing vicious blows at each other the
while. It Is thrilling, savage fantastic
Three days before the meet, some
20 horses, voluntarily contributed by
private individuals, are brought to-
Rether and tried out The 10 most
evenly matched are selected, and on the
eve OF the race the ward captains
gather at the Palazzo and draw lots for
them.
Men and Mounts Acquainted.
The allotment is made Immediately
after and the riders at once take pos
session. adjourning to the Campo for
practice gallop. There the excite
ment commences. The horses, strange
10 the noisy, crowded surroundings, in
vaT1ably become FESTIVE and unmanage-
able, rearing. backing. kicking, boiling
and causing general pandemonium
Gradually, however, men and mounts
grow better acquainted, and eventually
they come to a mutual understanding
ON the day of the race, after the
impressive ceremonies of the PABLO, we
repaired to the Campo to watch the
parade and it proved an imposing
sight.
Following the parade striking
pageant inherited from the middle ages
p WA -N1A IL
q silence OF vibrant anticipation With
quickening pulse, every man and wom-
an waited the sharp crack of the pistol,
which was to release the eager horses
fretting behind the barrier
1T came suddenly. almost unex-
pectedly, and the blood leaped into ac-
ton at the sight which followed
In serrfed ranks the racers sprang
forward. moving at terrific pace, their |
riders sitting as II O part of them
knees tight. bodies swaying nin1bly. |
arms waving the wicked whips and !
left.
A Thrilling Spectacle.
Sparks and sand few from the |
horses hoofs; the crowd leaned for
ward without q sound, thrilled and ex-
pectant. Then, abruptly, a CRY of
alarm broke the silence. At the sharp
turn by s. MARITIME. where the course
slopes suddenly. . man had been flung
70 the pavement, his horse stumbling
and rolling over. I closed my eyes as
the others pounded by the huddled
ngure, for It seemed impossible that
Ehe flying hoofs could avoid it.
"A sigh Of relief told me that by
some miracle the rider had escaped.
and looked again to see him struggle
20 his feet and stagger slowly toward
the psling.
1t was none too soon; the racing
centaurs were flashing by him once
more.
Harder and harder the peltins
horses strOve. as the last lap was
entered. But now the crowd had come
20 life and hurled frenzied yells of en-
couragement or bloodcurdling threats
and curses at the riders. Oca, our own
contrada entry. was leading, neck and
neck with the Montone entry, and.
thrilled to the narrow. forgot all
uecorum and added my voice to the
shouting chorus. carried away by the
electrifying enthusiasm all around.
'FIsunAers Across Line
"Montone pressed forward at the turn
and fierce execration broke from the
Qcaioli, to be followed immediately by
p cry OF JOY; for Morello, our hope
responded valiantiy to the challenge
and again drew abreast of his rival
Nose to nose they Numbered toward
The Stretch--now one, now the other
p few inches ahead; then, on straight
enfng out, Montone made his last bid
and grew suddenly cold, for his head
soon showed clear.
But is was the dying effort Of the
game creature. Ten lengths from the
post Morello began to creep up, eye
aname. nostrils qutvering. For mo-
he
tone: then with a wonderful leap he
sprang forward and honndered across