known as the rincorsa, or run-in horse,
shoots forward into the pen, but this dra-
matic entrance is not made until the jock-
ey he has been financially coerced to help
is in a favourable position. Despite a sup-
posed formal starting order, the jostling
and blocking is endless, and the rincorso
circles out the back, biding his time as all
eyes in the piazza are on him.
On at least four occasions the starter
orders the jockeys and their mounts out
of the starting pen to take a turn, during
which deals and counter-deals are openly
struck. Oh, to be a lip-reader as Bruschelli
bears down on the jockey on the run-in
horse, leaning across to issue a whispered
plea or instruction.
Two false starts increase the agony of
anticipation which lasts for over an hour.
As the light fades, the bargaining continues
and the crowd grows ever more restless;
suddenly, in a heartbeat, they're off.
A harum-scarum dash ensues. The more
experienced jockeys know exactly the line
to take around the famously tight circuit,
with the feared San Martino bend, lined
