Palio di Siena: contrada della Lupa wins the Palio dedicated to the Madonna Assunta with horse Benitos and jockey Dino Pes alias Velluto

The Contrada of the Lupa triumphed in today’s Palio di Siena, held on August 17, 2024, dedicated to the Madonna Assunta, with the horse Benitos, a seven-year-old sauro gelding making its debut, and the jockey Dino Pes, known as Velluto, a 43-year-old Sardinian born in Silanus (Nuoro).

The Lupa, with its colors of white and black with orange stripes, claimed the victory banner designed by the artist Riccardo Guasco, nicknamed Rik. This win marks the 38th victory in the centuries-old history of the Contrada of the Lupa at the Palio. The previous victory for the Lupa dated back to August 16, 2018, with jockey Giuseppe Zedde, known as Gingillo, riding the horse Porto Alabe. The race on the tufo track in Piazza del Campo took place this evening, with the horses entering at 7 pm, following a postponement from the previous day due to unexpected rain.

In the previous Palio della Madonna di Provenzano in July, the Contrada dell’Onda emerged victorious with the horse Tabacco and jockey Carlo Sanna, known as Brigante.

It was a high-stakes race that saw the Lupa emerge victorious after six regular tests and a weather-related delay from the previous day. The Carriera took place today, with the horses leaving from the Cortile del Podestà of Palazzo Pubblico in Piazza del Campo at 7 pm. The ten Contrade lined up for the start, with the order set by the new Mossiere Renato Bircolotti: Onda, Istrice, Lupa, Chiocciola, Oca, Leocorno, Selva, Valdimontone, Nicchio, and the trailing Civetta.