The worst thing that could happen in our beloved Palio

It just happened this morning. The thing that every Sienese person hates to see. What we dread, what we hope never to see. And it happened during a practice, not even during the actual race. It might have been the ground (the stones are covered with compacted sand), which had been soaked by yesterday's rain, or it was just the strength of a horse, which was too much to control.

We lost one horse today, Messi was his name. He ran for the Chiocciola (the Snail). Now it's raining again, storming actually.

Looks like a really strange and sad Palio for us this year.

p.s. Sorry for this strange post, but who's writing is very emotional at the moment.