Civita Castellana – Twenty-four years have passed since the jockey won the historic horse race – The feat is still alive in the hearts of his fellow citizens
by Giusi De Novara
| Siena Palio |
Civita Castellana – On July 2, 1980, Civitanova Marche’s Mauro Matteucci triumphed at the Palio di Siena.
It was July 2, 1980 and the Civitonian Mauro Matteucci, known as Marasma, triumphed at the Palio di Siena, for the contrada dell’Onda, riding Miura. A historic result for him, no fellow citizen will be able to equal his feat, and for the city of ceramics.
In the Faliscan capital, Mauro Matteucci is one of the most well-known figures. A bareback jockey, he made his debut at a very young age, at just twenty years old in 1976, riding Rimini for the Bruco contrada at the Siena Palio.
His career reached its highest point on July 2, 1980 when, riding Miura, he won the palio with the colors of Onda. He had been chosen by the captain Novello Inglesi, after having served a three-year disqualification from the square.
The victory was immediately marked by a lightning start, which allowed Marasma and Miura to lead the race from the beginning. During the second lap of the square, Marasma was however overtaken by Bastiano della Selva, who made the mistake of hitting the column at the second Casato curve, ending up on the ground, from that moment the race was in Marasma’s hands, who reached the end celebrating with his teammate raised.
After his victory in 1980, Marasma competed in three more Palios without ever managing to obtain any victory. He is the only Civitonico to have succeeded in this feat, which remains engraved in the hearts of his fellow citizens.
Juice Of Novara
July 2, 2024
