Collision causes wipeout at 350-year-old Italian horse race

Rome - A massive collision at a 350-year-old horse race in Italy, that may be the world's oldest continuing race, forced 60 percent of the participants to bow out.

The "Palio of Siena" bareback race around the hairpin curves of Siena has been held almost every year for around 350 years.

Six out of 10 horses ended Thursday's race on the ground. One received a fracture.

Accidents during the race - held July 2 and Aug 16 - are common, and many accidents have resulted in deaths of horses. Animal rights activists have called for the race to be banned.

Ten out of Siena's 16 neighbourhoods win the right to field a horse.

The Palio of Siena traces its roots back to 1590 when Grand Duke of Tuscany Cosimo II de' Medici banned bullfighting. Cities took to organising bareback races on bulls, donkeys and horses.  Siena's first race was held in 1656.