Lords, ladies, knights, and squires – 2,500 in all, descend on the town of Asti each year. They gather for a horse race, a bareback horserace.
Commoners stand outside the gates to gaze at the glorious entry.
An artist composes a scene in chalk to evoke a response from the noblemen.
Twenty-one horses carry riders to vie for victory – to stand among the triumphant who have raced here since 1275. There are three preliminary heats, seven horses compete in each. The horse does not need a rider to win.
15,000 people watch.
In the first heat, two riders are thrown.
In the third heat, the Viatosto horse wins without his rider.
In the end, only one wears the crown.
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