Saturday 26 and Sunday February 27 Pisa commemorates Ribot, in the 70th anniversary of his birth, with a conference to celebrate the great sporting achievements (Saturday, February 26) and with the "Ribot day" at the racecourse of San Rossore (Sunday, February 27) which includes a race that will be called "Prize 70th anniversary", and with the 14th edition of the "Ribot Cup", an event that will see engaged in three races some of the most promising young jockeys in Europe.
The relationship between Pisa and the legendary Ribot has been very close since, during his competitive activity, the champion thoroughbred was made to spend the wintering periods, from November to February, in the stables of Barbaricina, a district of Pisa in the immediate vicinity of the San Rossore Park. With his victories, the horse entered the myth of the sport and became an authentic celebrity, finishing his career undefeated with 16 races run and the same number of victories between 1954 and 1956, on the tracks in Italy but also at Longchamp ("Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe") in France and at Ascot ("King George and Elisabeth Stakes"), in England in the presence of a very young Queen Elizabeth II. In San Rossore on 5 March 1955 he won the 'Pisa prize' over 1,500 metres.
On Saturday 26 February (Palazzo Gambacorti, Sala delle Baleari, starting at 4.30 p.m.), the conference "La leggenda di Ribot per il futuro dell'ippica" (Ribot's legend for the future of horse racing) will take place. The programme includes a welcome address by the Mayor of Pisa, Michele Conti, and the presentation of the conference by the Municipal Councillor in charge, Marcello Lazzeri. Marco Monaco, Renzo Castelli, journalist and writer, Sara Del Fabbro, professional jockey, Lorenzo Lazzeri, Gentleman Rider, and representatives of the "Dormello Olgiata", "Alma Racing" and "San Rossore Team Aps" stables will take part in the event. Enrico Querci, journalist and writer, moderates.
On Sunday 27 February, the San Rossore racecourse will remember the champion with the "Ribot day". The programme includes a race entitled "70th Anniversary Prize" and, in the afternoon, the 14th edition of the "Ribot Cup", a sort of "talent" for young jockeys under 25 years of age that compares the equestrian schools of the main European countries. Jockeys from the UK, Ireland, France, Germany and Italy are invited. Over the years, some of the participants have gone on to become jockeys of international stature, starring on the world's most important stages, from the United States to England, via France to Dubai and Qatar. There will also be some jockeys representing Ireland (Siobhan Rutledge), England (Laura Pearson) and Italy (Sara Del Fabbro). From England comes Thore Hammer Hansen, German by origin, while France will be represented by the very young Simon Planque, champion among student jockeys in 2021. Italy, in addition to Sara Del Fabbro, will be represented by Riccardo Iacopini and Stefano Saiu. The tournament consists of three trials in which the mounts of the horses are drawn. A points classification decrees the winner of the Ribot Cup. Throughout the day, images of Ribot's greatest sporting feats will be shown on the big screen at the hypodrome, including some hitherto unpublished footage. The book 'Ribot, a champion and his era' will also be available at the racecourse kiosk.
