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Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Madonna's 67th birthday at 'the world's most insane horse race': The very famous faces who joined singer as bareback riders take treacherous turns at speed - and even WHIP each other
With riders racing bareback - and even whipping one another - against a crowd of cheering thousands, a spectacle dubbed 'the world's most insane horse race' is certainly a far cry from the Grand National. As one expert rightly proclaims, 'there are no rules' when it comes to the infamous Palio di Siena horse race held in Tuscany, Italy. So what better way for Madonna to see in her 67th birthday than to join in the delightful chaos? Looking immaculate and stylish, the pop icon was spotted enjoying the event on Saturday afternoon, as she took in all the thrills and spills of the notorious Italian race. The ever-ageless pop icon seemed to 'cherish' the colourful spectacle alongside son Rocco, daughter Lourdes Leon and Malawi-born twin daughters Stella and Estere, 12, who she adopted in 2017. Madonna - who revealed last month that her new album will be a sequel to her hit 2005 album Confessions On A Dance Floor - looked engrossed in the spectacle while flanked by her loved ones. Artist son Rocco, 25, her only child with director Guy Ritchie, was stripped to his vest as he accompanied his mother on her special day. Eldest daughter Lourdes, 28 - her daughter with dancer Carlos Leon - also joined in on the fun during their appearance in central Italy. The event has taken place in the Piazza del Campo within the Tuscan city of Siena twice a year since medieval times, with the first formal race taking place in 1633. This year Madonna was in good company, with British singer Sting, 73, also spotted among the delighted tourists watching on. The Police frontman sported a grey baseball cap and blue shirt as he intently watched the gripping action. A short distance away, The Day of The Jackal star Eddie Redmayne, 43, was all smiles as he took in the fast-paced festivities. The Brit actor, sporting a stylish zip-neck polo shirt, seemed to be enjoying the event amid the balmy 36C heat in Tuscany yesterday afternoon. Tens of thousands have graced the stands of the Palio for nearly 500 years after the reigning Grand Duke of Tuscany, Ferdinando I outlawed bullfighting. The race was adopted as a way of finding a sporting champion from the 17 neighbourhoods of the city. View this post on Instagram A post shared by DeSerio Travels (@adamdeserio) Today riders adhere to the same standards as their predecessors, having to ride bareback with only a set of reins and a racing whip. Each rider dresses in the colours of their neighbourhood, ready to battle it out with other riders to the finish line. Usually the Piazza del Campo is paved with cobblestones, but is transformed for the special event with tons of clay packed onto the surface to prepare the ground as a racetrack. Prior to the race, colourful flags and processions adorn the city of Siena, with the highlight being the displaying of the Palio - a banner featuring the Virgin Mary to whom the race is dedicated. The first to cross the finish line of the three-lap race is rewarded with the Palio for their victorious neighbourhood to celebrate with. But first the participants must line up and endure the contest - which travel blogger Rick Steves has described as 'the world's most insane horse race'. According to travel blogger Rick Steves: 'Once the rope drops there's one basic rule - there are no rules' The fast-paced action takes place over the course of three laps and lasts around 90 seconds For unlike contemporary horse races, the riders not only whip their horses - but are also allowed to whip each other in a bid to unseat their rivals. As Steves explained: 'Once the rope drops there's one basic rule - there are no rules.' The frenzied action takes place over just 90 seconds with the crowd of up to 60,000 heard across the city of Siena from a long distance away. Such are the risks attached to riding bareback that it is not uncommon for a few of the jockeys to be thrown off their horses while riding through the treacherous turns in the piazza.
Daily Mail
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Madonna, 66, is all smiles as she celebrates Easter with her lookalike son Rocco, twin daughters Stella and Estere and toyboy lover Akeem Morris
Madonna was all smiles as she celebrated Easter with her lookalike son Rocco and her twin daughters Stella and Estere. The Queen of Pop, 66, took to Instagram on Sunday to share how she spent her Easter weekend with her fans. Madonna was beaming as she hugged Malawi-born daughters Stella and Estere, 12, who she adopted in 2017. She was also seen posing for snaps with her DJ son Rocco, 24, who she shares with director Guy Ritchie, just a month after he sported a new platinum blonde hairdo channelling his famous mum. Madonna was also joined for Easter by her boyfriend Akeem Morris, 28, as the singer sat on his knee for snaps and the pair were seen strolling hand-in-hand. She celebrated the weekend by watching Chelsea Football Club play, and lose, at their stadium in London as well as watching Self Esteem perform. Madonna was beaming as she hugged Malawi-born daughters Stella and Estere, 12, who she adopted in 2017 Easter weekend looked like……..' she captioned the snap. 'Spending time with friends and family, Watching Chelsea lose to Legia Warszawa. 'And seeing an Incredible Artist named @selfesteemselfesteem perform!!' Madonna and Rocco's reunion comes after he channelled his mother as he showed off his new blond locks during a night out at Oswald's Members Club in London. The actor and DJ cut a dapper figure in a navy double breasted suit which he teamed with a blue striped shirt and eye catching red tie. Rocco has ditched his usual dark buzz cut for a longer blond do and rocked a stubble beard. He looked in good spirits as he departed the celebrity hotspot in the city. Madonna turned heads in a racy all-black ensemble as she proudly supported her artist son Rocco by attending his new exhibition in Paris last year. She looked every inch the adoring parent as she shared a carousel of snaps from the evening with her 19.8 million Instagram followers. Rocco was hosting the event to showcase his new work - The Tourist: An Exhibition by Rocco Ritchie. The singer wrote in the caption of her newest post: 'Escape to Paris to see my son Rocco's exhibition The Tourist and visit friends. Perfect antidote for sadness! @roccoritchie @maisonrhed.' A post shared by Giorgio Armani, describing Rocco's new exhibition, read: 'The paintings that make up this show, reflect a splitting between person and public and a feeling of alienation. 'The artist's use of a distinctive palette creates a timeless quality, with the works existing simultaneously in the past and present.' Paintings by Rocco, who often paints under the pseudonym Rhed, fetch anything between £10,000 and £45,000. Bursting with pride, one snap saw the hitmaker hugging her son from behind, with another showing the mother-son duo enjoying a meal out together to celebrate. Other photos saw the singer posing next to her son's work and making her way around the gallery, before having a photoshoot of her own to show off her fabulous outfit. Madonna donned a racy black sheer dress and a long leather coat as she stepped out in Paris for the event. She looked incredible as she wore a simple black bodysuit under the eye catching see through midi dress. The Material Girl singer kept warm under the £375 long jacket by Charlotte Simone which boasted a stunning fur collar and matching cuffed sleeves. Madonna elevated her frame in a pair of lace up black knee high boots and toted her belongings in a coordinated handbag. She styled her long blonde tresses in a neat low bun and added a bold white and black spotted head scarf tied around her head for the outing.
