End of the Palio?

Following the horrific accidents which saw the death of 2 Horses in the Pistoia Pailio ( Palio )  is this about the time to tighten up on safety for the poor animals. So much pressure is put on the organisers to ensure the event goes off when planned that unfortunately safety is put as a final consideration. The more famous Palio in Sienna has been critised in the past over safety concerns, so is it time to only hold these events if weather and track conditions allow, surely racing horses on sand covered wet cobbles is a recipe for disaster.

Looks like this might have been nicked **italyMag Link H&S is not big here, but I agree they need to start thinking about as there is no event if people stop watching it....

I don't have a problem with this type of event if the safety and welfare of the animals, is a prime concern; but like most things here, revenue and running an event at the advertised time takes preference over logic and concern for a well run, fun family event.
Italy is not know for it's great stance on Animal Welfare but is renowned for it's Traditions.

surely racing horses on sand covered wet cobbles is a recipe for disaster.

Depends on how much sand.  In Siena they put down 20cm of sand, and the running surface is fine - its the slope and curve that does for the horses.  So, you can have a palio in the Campo as for the last 600 years, or you can do what they would do in Britain and move it to a nice flat tarmacced car park near a shopping centre in the new town in November.  And then moan that nobody goes any more.