The Joust

A contest of skill and dexterity to win the Palio

The “Ponte Majore” Horse Race Stadium, located between the Forte Malatesta and the San Vittore Church is the sacred temple of the Quintana. On the race course, in the shape of an eight, the fates of the six Sestieri are decided. Ascoli’s challenge is unique in that the target is a shield supported by a puppet that has the appearance of a Saracen called “The Dark” (Il Moro). The Dark always remains an insidious and selective opponent as the impact that the knights are forced to face in the assaults is tremendous. It must be faced in three rounds, each consisting of three assaults. The total round score is a combination of the time taken and the result obtained from the assaults on the target.

At the Campo dei Giochi in “Ponte Majore,” the knights of the six sestieri engage in a contest of dexterity and skill, galloping wildly against the dreaded “moro.” Only the best of them will win the coveted Palio.

The Rules of the Joust

The base score is 300 points for 55 seconds net, with an increase of two points for each tenth saved and a deduction of two points for each tenth in excess. No score is awarded beyond 60 seconds. The rider must hit a concentric target with scores ranging from 100 in the center to 20 outward. The competition course is a figure-of-eight track bordered by hedges: touching a hedge with the horse’s hooves results in a 30-point penalty, while putting all four hooves over the line, losing the lance during the assault or being unhorsed results in a null round. The first two rounds are run according to the order drawn on the eve, while the third and decisive round follows the reverse order of the provisional ranking. The Palio is won by the knight of the sestiere with the highest total score at the end of the three rounds.