Bareback Summer Horse Races
Horses and jockeys on the Amiata track, preparing for the Palio di Piancastagnaio
About Bareback Summer Races
The Bareback Summer Horse Races of Piancastagnaio
In the height of summer, the village of Piancastagnaio, located in the province of Siena at the foot of Mount Amiata, renews its deep-rooted passion for horses with a day of Bareback Horse Races. The event takes place on the track of the Madonna di San Pietro Equestrian Theme Park, a facility inaugurated in 2023 along the Via Grossetana that has quickly become the benchmark for equestrianism and local tradition in the Amiata region.
The road to the Palio
These summer races are not a standalone event but a key stage in the busy equestrian calendar that enlivens the local park from May through August. This day is part of the preparation period leading up to the Palio di Piancastagnaio, the race held every year on August 18th, where the town's four districts — Castello, Borgo, Coro, and Voltaia — compete under the guidance of the Magistrato delle Contrade. For horses, jockeys, and owners, these summer races serve as a showcase, a testing ground, and a true celebration.
Bareback racing: the challenge on the track
The races are held "a pelo" (bareback), with jockeys riding without saddles, in keeping with the tradition of Tuscan palios. Thoroughbred horses compete in several heats throughout the day, ridden by jockeys experienced in the world of palios and jousts. The park's track, praised by jockeys themselves as a little gem, ensures both safety and spectacle, with the public gathered along the fences to follow every heat.
A district-led event
The event is promoted by the Association of Palio Horse Owners, Trainers, and Breeders in close collaboration with the Magistrato delle Contrade of Piancastagnaio and the four districts. This network of enthusiasts keeps the local equestrian culture alive throughout the season, honoring the identity of the August Palio and its historical re-enactments.
Sport and tradition at the foot of Mount Amiata
Attending the summer races is also a perfect opportunity to discover Piancastagnaio, an ancient medieval village dominated by the Aldobrandesca Fortress and famous for its Amiata chestnuts. Between heats, the day becomes a moment of conviviality for families, enthusiasts, and curious visitors alike, set in a natural landscape that blends sport, folk tradition, and the beauty of southern Tuscany.
Bareback Summer Races — edition 2026
On July 5, 2026, the Madonna di San Pietro Equestrian Theme Park in Piancastagnaio will host a new day of Bareback Horse Races. The event is promoted by the Association of Palio Horse Owners, Trainers, and Breeders together with the Magistrato delle Contrade and the town's four districts — Castello, Borgo, Coro, and Voltaia — and is part of the preparation circuit for the Palio on August 18th.
Horse registrations, including all necessary documentation (registration form, self-certification, and jockey liability waiver), were open from June 1st to June 25, 2026, closing on Thursday, June 25th at 6:00 PM. Thoroughbred horses and jockeys will compete on the park's track in multiple heats throughout the day.
Programme Bareback Summer Races 2026
Sunday, July 5, 2026 — Madonna di San Pietro Equestrian Theme Park
A day of bareback horse racing, with registered thoroughbreds divided into multiple heats and jockeys riding without saddles, in accordance with the regulations of the Association of Palio Horse Owners, Trainers, and Breeders and the Magistrato delle Contrade.
- Horse registrations open from June 1st to June 25, 2026 (closing Thursday, June 25th at 6:00 PM).
- The races are held bareback on the Piancastagnaio Equestrian Park track.
- The event is part of the summer calendar preparing for the Piancastagnaio Palio on August 18th.
The detailed program for the day — start times, number and composition of heats, and the list of horses and jockeys — will be announced by the organizers on the Magistrato delle Contrade's channels in the days leading up to the event.
Highlights Bareback Summer Races 2026
Prices Bareback Summer Races 2026
Practical information — Bareback Summer Races
How to get there
The races take place at the Madonna di San Pietro Equestrian Theme Park, along the Via Grossetana in Piancastagnaio (SI). The village is accessible by car via the SS2 Cassia and the provincial roads of Amiata; parking is available near the park. The nearest train station is Chiusi-Chianciano Terme, from which you can continue by car.
When
The event is held in summer on a dedicated day. Heats typically take place throughout the day; detailed schedules are announced by the organizers closer to the event date.
Registration and contact
Horse registration is handled through the Association of Palio Horse Owners, Trainers, and Breeders; forms and regulations are published on the channels of the Magistrato delle Contrade. Magistrato delle Contrade, Viale Gramsci 55, 53025 Piancastagnaio (SI).
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Where does it take place — Bareback Summer Races
Parco Tematico Equestre Madonna di San Pietro
Via Grossetana, 53025 Piancastagnaio