Page 40 - WesternU View - Fall 2017
P. 40
The Palio di Siena dates back nearly 800 years.
Town officials have had 800 years to “I also enjoy how much the people of Siena
establish standards and procedures for the love and care for their horses,” he said.
races, but modern Palio rules about how “First, they make sure the racetrack is safe,
horses are chosen and which neighborhoods and they spend millions of euros to ensure
may participate in a race can be traced back this. It’s made from a combination of sand
to 1729 and to the city’s Munich-born and clay that is as much as a foot thick in
governor, Duchess Violante Beatrice of critical places.” The sharp corners of
Bavaria. buildings surrounding the plaza are cloaked
in Formula One racing-grade padding, he
For the modern Palio, the race track added.
accommodates only 10 horses. As many as
120 horses are evaluated for performance The horses make three laps around the track
and experience, and from this group, 10 are for a total distance of one and one-third
chosen to run. Four days before race day, the miles. Each race lasts an average of 75
10 horses are randomly matched to the 10 seconds. Even with all the precautions,
teams, jockeys are selected and announced, injuries can occur.
and the entire city celebrates with a festival.
“When a horse is injured, it is taken right
“The horses are pampered, and live a lush away to a clinic, where everything is done to
life for the four days leading up to the race,” help the horse survive,” Bertone said. “When
Bertone said. they recover, they are cared for by the city
for the rest of their lives.”
He describes his contrada as a family of
more than 4,000 people. Bertone had been a contrada veterinarian for
five years before he joined the WesternU
“Over the years, I have made many good faculty in 2003, and it was only this year
friends,” he said. “I go back for weddings, that a scheduling conflict arose. Taking care
and, sadly, funerals. I have a wonderful of the horses in Italy for the August 16 race
godchild there. I’ve grown very close to the meant he would miss the inauguration
people and consider many as brothers and ceremony for the new university president,
sisters. Daniel R. Wilson, MD, PhD, who is only the
From the Dean
We have spent the past decade stabilizing and improving a novel curriculum that continues to have a
transformative impact on veterinary education worldwide. We are also developing our research
infrastructure and improving the health of our local communities through high-quality clinical
services. Our continuing programmatic expansion is a vital testament to the talent and skills of our
faculty and staff. I could not be more proud to be affiliated with such an illustrious academic team.
– Phillip Nelson, DVM, PhD
38 Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine
Town officials have had 800 years to “I also enjoy how much the people of Siena
establish standards and procedures for the love and care for their horses,” he said.
races, but modern Palio rules about how “First, they make sure the racetrack is safe,
horses are chosen and which neighborhoods and they spend millions of euros to ensure
may participate in a race can be traced back this. It’s made from a combination of sand
to 1729 and to the city’s Munich-born and clay that is as much as a foot thick in
governor, Duchess Violante Beatrice of critical places.” The sharp corners of
Bavaria. buildings surrounding the plaza are cloaked
in Formula One racing-grade padding, he
For the modern Palio, the race track added.
accommodates only 10 horses. As many as
120 horses are evaluated for performance The horses make three laps around the track
and experience, and from this group, 10 are for a total distance of one and one-third
chosen to run. Four days before race day, the miles. Each race lasts an average of 75
10 horses are randomly matched to the 10 seconds. Even with all the precautions,
teams, jockeys are selected and announced, injuries can occur.
and the entire city celebrates with a festival.
“When a horse is injured, it is taken right
“The horses are pampered, and live a lush away to a clinic, where everything is done to
life for the four days leading up to the race,” help the horse survive,” Bertone said. “When
Bertone said. they recover, they are cared for by the city
for the rest of their lives.”
He describes his contrada as a family of
more than 4,000 people. Bertone had been a contrada veterinarian for
five years before he joined the WesternU
“Over the years, I have made many good faculty in 2003, and it was only this year
friends,” he said. “I go back for weddings, that a scheduling conflict arose. Taking care
and, sadly, funerals. I have a wonderful of the horses in Italy for the August 16 race
godchild there. I’ve grown very close to the meant he would miss the inauguration
people and consider many as brothers and ceremony for the new university president,
sisters. Daniel R. Wilson, MD, PhD, who is only the
From the Dean
We have spent the past decade stabilizing and improving a novel curriculum that continues to have a
transformative impact on veterinary education worldwide. We are also developing our research
infrastructure and improving the health of our local communities through high-quality clinical
services. Our continuing programmatic expansion is a vital testament to the talent and skills of our
faculty and staff. I could not be more proud to be affiliated with such an illustrious academic team.
– Phillip Nelson, DVM, PhD
38 Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine
