From the early 1900s, spectators arrived at the races in different ways: the paying public accessed the main grandstand, while those of high extraction such as the nobility and the Milan bourgeoisie announced themselves directly with carriages and coachmen. Once inside the racecourse, they began social rituals and exchanged opinions on horses and bets.

The preparations that preceded the race did not differ much from what still takes place today. Horses being unsaddled, jockeys at the weighing building and the call of the race commissioner at the presentation ring: here the horses, with their trainers and jockeys, were presented to an audience of experts and bettors for the latest assessments of the race.

READY TO START

The horses lined up behind a rope which was lowered to signal the start of the gallop race. In modern flat races the horses are positioned in metal structures, the stalls, better known as “starting cages”.

The first harness races were held in Prato della Valle, Padua, at the beginning of the 1800s with typical attachments called “padovanelle”. Towards the end of the 19th century, other cities hosted races with “sedioli”, often using non-professional drivers.
In Milan the races were first held in the Viale Padova area in the “Trotter di Turro” park; then, in the 1920s, a track was built in the San Siro area and remained active – after many transformations – until 2012.The grand prix, characteristic of the last Milanese harness racing, were held throughout the year. The European Prize was in spring and the National Prize was in summer, while the high point came in late autumn with the Orsi Mangelli Prize, once called the St Leger Harness Racing Prize or San Siro Prize, and the Grand Prix of the Nations. The year ended with the Grand Criterium and the Winter Prize (now the Ettore and Mario Barbetta Grand Prix). The season included other Grand Prix such as the Encat or the Unire prize, now disappeared or downgraded.

Harness races involve preparing the horses differently from the gallop: in fact, one hour before the race the horses usually go out for a warm-up called “sgambatura”, to check the horse’s attitude and test its physical condition.

THE EVENING RACES