For the first time, the Hippodrome of the Côte d’Azur is organizing, this Friday, August 23, an inter-city race modeled after the traditional Palio of Montegiorgio, which has been run in Italy for 25 years and is very popular due to its friendliness and the warmth of the supporters.
The Palio concept, dear to Italy, is being exported for the first time to France, at the initiative of the Société des Courses de la Côte d’Azur and its President François Forcioli-Conti.
Several cities from the Côte d’Azur, Italy, and Sweden will compete, each associated with a horse-driver pair donning its colors.
With its unifying spirit, the 2013 Palio of Friendship will bring together 10 surrounding French communes: Biot, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Grasse, La Gaude, Le Cannet, Mougins, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, Vallauris-Golfe Juan, and Villeneuve-Loubet; two Italian communes: Fermo and Montegiorgio; as well as the Swedish commune of Malmö.
The jockeys will be dressed in jackets representing the colors of the cities they represent.
For the occasion, the Hippodrome will be adorned with flags bearing the colors of the participating entities. The prize-giving ceremony will take place in front of the public, on the podium set up at the foot of the stands.
All the drivers in the race will be rewarded by representatives from the different municipalities. Their enthusiasm is unanimous: Italy has gifted SCCA a Palio featuring the legendary trotter Ourasi, and the cities of Fermo and Montegiorgio are delegating no fewer than 65 artists to promote the Palio at the Hippodrome site during the two days of races.
Between the races, the troupe La Cavalcata dell’Assunta will present a folkloric show featuring 65 flag throwers and musicians in traditional costumes.
The evening will conclude with a firework display.
