Sardinian jockey Dino Pes, known as Velluto, triumphs at the 2026 edition of the Palio di Asti, riding his horse Excalibur from the San Martino-San Rocco district to victory in the historic race.
The race, which unfolded amidst a spirit of excitement in the Asti square, overturned the pre-race predictions that had favored the Tanaro and San Pietro districts. The final meters of the race proved decisive, marked by a fall that left neither horses nor jockeys from the two rival villages with no physical consequences. This paved the way for the decisive overtaking of Velluto—born in Silanus in 1980 and a former winner of the Palio di Siena—to the uncontained joy of the fans from the San Martino-San Rocco district, who had been waiting 14 years to win the Drappo, the symbol of the race, once again.
(Unioneonline)
