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Sicily police investigate illegal race with horse-drawn carts and Kalashnikovs
TL;DR
Sicilian police are investigating an illegal horse race where spectators fired guns, prompting the seizure of horses and stables. The event, filmed in Palagonia, went viral on social media.
Key points
- Illegal horse race occurred in Sicily
- Spectators fired guns during the event
- Police seized horses and shut down stables
- Two men reported to prosecutors
- Video went viral on social media
Mentioned in this story
SicilyPalagoniaEnrico Rizzi
A video showing an illegal horse race in Sicily, with spectators firing pistols into the air and brandishing Kalashnikov rifles, went viral and prompted a police investigation that led to the seizure of the animals.
The clip, reportedly filmed last Friday, shows two jockeys driving horse-drawn carts at breakneck speed along country roads in the town of Palagonia, near Catania, in eastern Sicily. Behind them, dozens of people follow on scooters, firing shots into the air. The footage was posted on social media by an animal rights activist, Enrico Rizzi.
Police said: “Following reports of an unauthorised horse race, accompanied by dozens of people filming the event and firing gunshots into the air, police carried out investigations in the San Cristoforo district of Catania, which led to two men aged 40 and 45 being reported to prosecutors.
“Officers immediately began intensive inspections of several stables in the San Cristoforo district, together with veterinarians from the regional health department, in order to identify the horses used in the race and place them in safety.”
The newspaper La Sicilia reported that the horses had been seized and the stables shut down. Several people were taken to the police station for questioning and the investigation is continuing.
Illegal horse racing remains widespread in Sicily, as well as in Calabria and Campania. Past investigations have shown that such races are often organised by mafia families linked to Cosa Nostra, the Camorra and the ’Ndrangheta.
The races generate large sums of undeclared cash, with bets often reaching thousands of euros for a single event. The cities where the phenomenon is most entrenched include Catania, Messina and Palermo, where repeated police raids over the years have led to arrests, prosecutions and the seizure of illegal stables.
The Italian animal welfare organisation LAV wrote in its annual report last year: “Illegal horse races, in addition to being a source of illicit profits linked to gambling, represent one of the most striking displays of criminal prestige and mafia control over the territory.
Q&A
What happened during the illegal horse race in Sicily?
An illegal horse race took place in Sicily, where spectators fired guns into the air while jockeys raced horse-drawn carts.
What actions did the police take after the viral video of the horse race?
Police launched an investigation, seized the horses involved, and reported two men to prosecutors.
Who filmed the illegal horse race in Sicily?
The video of the illegal horse race was filmed by animal rights activist Enrico Rizzi.
