Palio, Nicchio wins the first test

The first race of the Palio on 2 July 2024 goes to the Nicchio, with Elias Mannucci on Akida. Very fast start, with the Onda giving the run-up. Good start from Giraffa, Bruco and Oca, then it’s a fight between Bruco and Nicchio with Turbine who takes the lead and never leaves it again, also thanks to the slowdown of all the other jockeys, who show prudence. This is the order within the ropes, according to the drawing of lots: Valdimontone, Pantera, Bruco, Leocorno, Lupa, Civetta, Oca, Giraffa, Nicchio, Onda (run-up).

This is the order of the ropes for the next tests. Second test (tomorrow morning, Sunday 30 June, 9 am, above order inverted): Onda, Nicchio, Giraffa, Oca, Civetta, Lupa, Leocorno, Bruco, Pantera, Valdimontone (run-up). Third test (tomorrow afternoon, Sunday 30 June, 7:45 pm, order of the Contrade extraction for the assignment of the horses): Bruco, Valdimontone, Civetta, Pantera, Oca, Lupa, Nicchio, Leocorno, Onda, Giraffa (run-up). Fourth test (Monday 1 July, 9 am, above order inverted): Giraffa, Onda, Leocorno, Nicchio, Lupa, Oca, Pantera, Civetta, Valdimontone, Bruco (run-up). Fifth test (Dress rehearsal, Monday 1 July, 7.45 pm, order given to the horses to proceed with their assignment, so-called “ear number”): Goose, Ram, Owl, Nicchio, Giraffe, Panther, Unicorn, Wave, She-wolf, Caterpillar (run-up). Sixth test (Try-out, Tuesday 2 July, 9 am, above order reversed): Caterpillar, Wolf, Wave, Leocorno, Panther, Giraffe, Nicchio, Civetta, Ram, Goose (run-up).

These are the pairs made up of the assigned horses and jockeys, chosen by the Contrade themselves.