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The adversaries in the palio are the contrade, town quarters of Siena, some of which have been enemies for centuries. The jockeys called fantini in Italian, do not use saddles, but they use bullwhips to hit the horses as well as their adversaries and their horses.
The horses are blessed before the race. The vicar prays the horse to "Go and come back victorious" and to bring its greatest power.
All in all the palio is between a religious holiday and profane sports. According to archeologic findings in the region the palio can be retraced to Etruscan origins. It has changed several times, the today form going back to the year 1745.
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One of the Sienese contrade is Chiocchiola, the snail. This contrada, having its place in the Via San Marco, on its arms has got a snail. It is said:
"By slow and steady pace, in triumph from the field the chiocchiola goes."
Obviously the chiocchiola's horses go somewhat faster than the snail that gave them their arms and their name. Since july 2nd, 1654 until august 16th 1999 the chiocchiola's riders won the palio 54 times.
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