The Palio race was a horse race unlike any other horse race through streets and cities. Each horse in the race was backed by a local company, guild, neighborhood or owner.

The object of race was to back the horse that crossed the finish line first. There were no rules. You were able to unhorse an opponent, kill an opponent, whatever it took to win the race. The winning horse did not need a rider when it crossed the line, if had a rider he did not need to be alive. The palio itself was a bolt of the most expensive cloth that would be presented to the owner or sponsor of the winning horse.