On
the 22nd of April each year, an oxcart race takes place in Chieuti.
Four carts are pulled at great speed through the town by pairs of
oxen. The animals undergo training throughout the year in preparation
for the event, and the day before the race, a rehearsal is held. The
oxen are then shut in their stables to protect them from any interference
by members of opposing teams.
The next morning, the day of the race, the oxen are washed and decorated.
Before the start of the ordeal the teams are blessed by the village
priest.
The oxen are raced for almost three miles, through the town, out into
the country, up and down hills, then back down the main street to
the church. They are watched by large crowds of spectators, and chased
by riders on horseback, who spur on the oxen using lances with sharp
spikes. The next day, St. George's Day, the winner of the race gets
to wear a multicoloured hat during the procession, and carry an effigy
of St.George.
Animal rights organisations demand that animals are not used for this
festival, as it is clear that the oxen and horses are subjected to
enormous stress.
FAACE and Initiative Anti-Corrida attended the race in 2004 taking
photographs and video.
Please send the sample letter in Italian given in box below.
Sample
Come dimostrano le foto, gli articoli e le testimonianze
raccolte dalle associazioni animaliste, la corsa dei buoi di
Chieuti, Foggia provoca sicuramente sofferenze agli animali
in gara, pungolati perché corrano
e perfino stramazzano al suolo per affaticamento, ma i cavalli
anche soffrono.
Riteniamo pertanto che la Corsa dei buoi sia uno spettacolo
crudele, eticamente squalificante e dannoso per l'immagine turistica
di Chieuti e della provincia di Foggia e Italia. Chiedo pertanto
che la "Corsa dei buoi" venga sostituita definitivamente
con un'altra manifestazione in onore di S. Giorgio in cui non
vengano impiegati animali.
Fino ad allora ci asterremo dal soggiornare
in località turistiche della provincia di Foggia e daremo
la massima pubblicità a questa nostra decisione con amici
e conoscenti sensibili, affinché essi stessi non si rechino
per turismo in località della provincia foggiana.
Distinti saluti.
Nome:
Paese:
Translation
The photographs, videos, articles
and testimonies of protestors serve to demonstrate only too
clearly that the animals participating in the festival in chieuti
are made to suffer; to make them run, the oxen are goaded with
spiked lances.
Not only are the oxen hurt and
even collapse through exhaustion, but the horses also suffer.
This is a cruel spectacle that
shows Chieuti, as well as the province of Foggia, and Italy,
in a very bad light, and discourages tourism. I would ask you
therefore, to permanently abolish the Chieuti oxcart race, and
celebrate St.George's Day in a way that does not involve the
abuse of animals.
Until this happens, I will not
be visiting Italy and I will tell my friends and acquaintances
of my decision, so that they also will not travel to Italy
On
the 22nd of April each year, an oxcart race takes place in Chieuti.
Four carts are pulled at great speed through the town by pairs of
oxen. The animals undergo training throughout the year in preparation
for the event, and the day before the race, a rehearsal is held. The
oxen are then shut in their stables to protect them from any interference
by members of opposing teams. 
