Donkey Races and 'Palios'

We are collecting information on the many kinds of donkey races which take place in Italy.

A few bits of news already:

There are more than 80 events, spread all over the country.

The events have little or no veterinary presence to check the health of the donkeys. In addition, the events are often linked to festivals or feasts in which donkey also features on the menu.

It is rare for the donkeys or jockeys to prepare for the races in any way.