Week of August 16th Through August 22nd

August 16th - The Palio horse race is held annually on August 16th and July 2nd in Siena, Italy. Before the race the horses are blessed and there is a parade through the
center. The horses line up behind a rope and the race begins, with the horses
circling through the city three times. The whole race lasts for about a minute
and a half, and features seventeen horses and jockeys. It is highly competitive
and the winning horse is awarded a flag to signify its victory.

Information and photo courtesy of initaly.com

Aug 17th, 1918 - Thoroughbred racehorse Man o' War was sold at auction for $5000. Man o' War was sold as a yearling at the Saratoga auction. Samuel Riddle would purchase Man o' War, although he was hesitant to bid on the horse until his wife encouraged him to make a bid, reminding him that Louis Feustel, who was training horses for Riddle, had requested that Feustel purchase all of the yearlings offered by Belmont, especially Man o' War. Man o’ War sold for $5,000, a fairly high price considering that the average price for the yearlings sold was $1,107. Man o' War would then go on to become one of the best-known racehorses. 

Information courtesy of horseracing.about.com

Photo courtesy of belmontstakes.com

August 18th, 2008 - Thoroughbred racehorse Genuine Risk died at the age of 31. Genuine Risk won the 1980 Kentucky Derby, and was one of only three fillies to do so. She also
finished second in the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. Genuine Risk
was retired in 1981, but it took eleven years before she would produce a live
foal, Genuine Reward.

Information courtesy of nysun.com

Photo courtesy of silverspringstables.com