"We saw a beautiful race, with excellent horses and excellent jockeys," says Alain Paddeu, president of the Orgosolo Equestrian Association. "The spectacle was captivating. In this 39th edition of the Palio dell'Assunta, we have focused more than ever on showcasing our traditional horse, the Anglo-Arab Sardinian."
Excitement and thrills
A few falls worried the large crowd and changed plans somewhat. A few heats were cancelled due to time constraints, but in the end, the main race took place. Gianluca Fais, riding Franky, triumphed on Sunday evening at the Orgosolo racetrack. With a great performance, he won the Palio dell'Assunta, the race reserved for Anglo-Arab horses. In Barbagia, the promotion of the island's quintessential horse continues unabated. "Given the problem that we can no longer race thoroughbreds in our facilities, from now on we must continue to focus more on breeding 'half-bloods,'" Paddeu remarks.
Twinning
But there's more to the races. During a sold-out weekend, Orgosolo also launched a twinning agreement with the Tuscan town of Casole d'Elsa, famous for its Palio. "We hope to continue this collaboration," says Federica Ferrini, of the Casole d'Elsa Palio Committee. "We've had a wonderful welcome in Orgosolo. There's so much purity here; everything is more authentic."