NOTE: The following is a post I made in another group where I play the Races Aedile. The post was well received and I thought I'd share it with you. I hope you enjoy it. And, yes, I'm afraid it is a bit long, too. LOL

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The Races Aedile M. Longinus Ursus watched as the entertainment prepared to move out on to the track. It was a collection of various wagons, carts, and old chariots pulled by oxen, mules, and even dogs! The wagons were brightly painted blue and gold and all the animals had streamers of blue and gold tied to their harnesses. The drivers, too, were a motley lot. Big or small, each man wore a tunic dyed on one side with gold and the other with purple. The stadium itself had banners of gold and purple waving gently in the breeze. The sponsor for this months races had those two colors on his mind. Ursus shrugged. He wants a theme of gold and purple and is willing to pay for it, then we'll use gold and purple.

The crazy mix of six “chariots” moved out on the track, slowly rolling around and giving the crowd, which was hooting with laughter, a good look at them. As they neared the starting point, they lined up. The signal was given and the six teams took off! The first race in months was underway! The crowd could barely contain themselves. Some were on their feet yelling and screaming, others were rolling in the aisles holding their sides and gasping for air at the sight laid out before them. Laughter rolled to the heavens and caused the gods to wonder what was happening on the earth beneath their feet. They looked down. Total disbelief, then uncontrollable laughter as they, too, succumbed to the ridiculous sight unfolding below.

And what a sight it was! In the lead was a small cart hauling a giant of man. Its team of six large dogs were yapping and yelping as they surged around the track. Behind they was an old chariot whose wheels were wobbling about the axle, threatening to fall off with every rotation. This conveyance had a standard team of two horses - old and swaybacked though they were, they were valiantly holding second place and closing in, slowly, on the leaders. Some distance behind the leaders was another old chariot, its ribbons waving in the slight breeze created by the movement of the team of mules. Almost half the track behind the leaders was the fourth place contenders. A wagon hauled by a pair of oxen. Its charioteer was an old farmer and his shouts of encouragement were drowned in the laughter rolling from the stadium and the heavens above. Further back was a cart with a young boy trying to get his team of goats to move faster than a slow walk. In fact, most of the time he was pulling on their harness, leading them around the track. He had company for another of the “chariots”, hauled by six sheep, was also being lead by its driver.

Soon, the race ended. The winner, the “Chariot of the Dogs” was the winner, followed, of course, by the Swaybacks. Slowly, the remaining teams crossed the finish line. Behind them were the slaves who smoothed out the track in preparation for the main show. The crowd settled back in their seats, discussing the novelty of the first race in months. All seemed to have enjoyed the show. The vendors were moving about them, offering up golden cakes and purple wine.

A trumpet blew. Silence fell over the stadium as the contestants for the month of Quintilis moved out onto the track. Sunlight glinted off the golden wings festooning the chariot of Bellerophone, charioteer for L. Valerius Flaccus' team Corinthians. The hideous head of Medusa glared out at the crowd while, on the opposite side, the god Neptune smiled. The arena aedile's chariot Velites, driven by Franko, was also richly decorated - in gold and purple! Chuckles could be heard as Sutor drove his team Lotus onto the track. His chariot still was decorated with the blue chevrons (supposedly to increase his speed). But, what was bringing more laughter to the crowd were the two odd boxes that were dangling from a stick on the front of the chariot. The boxes appeared to be fuzzy and were colored pink and blue and had white dots scattered in random patterns over their faces. There was much speculation among the crowd as to the purpose of these odd contraptions. But, for all of the colorful decorations on the chariots, the drivers displayed their team colors prominently.

As the twelve chariots neared the starting line, each lined up according to their entry on the field. The first chariot held the inside lane while each of the others moved into the lane to the right of the previous chariot. Restlessly, the spirited horses and their anxious drivers waited for the signal that would begin the race. All eyes were on the Aedile. Slightly embarassed, Ursus stood up in his box. Sitting beside him was the sponsor of the Races, the Arena Aedile A. Terentius Auricomus. Terentius gave a small nod. Ursus drew a deep breath and raised his arm. Time stood still. Silence fell over the entire course. Ursus dropped his arm.

Instantly, the crowd began yelling and screaming, encouraging their favorites as the charioteers whipped and shouted at their teams, urging every bit of speed from the animals. The thunder of pounding hooves and rolling wheels filled the stadium. Shouts and curses filled the air. Whips cracked, horses whinnied. Bedlam ruled the races as the chariots roared around the track.

The crowd shouted and screamed in joy and agony as the teams completed the first lap of the race. Leading the string of chariots was the white team Lemures, urged on by Julius. Close behind was Maledicti (Vesanicus, red) and Gaetuli (Telemachus, white). Vying for fourth place were the teams of Lotus (Sutor, green) and Pisces (R. Petti, green). Excitement was palpable as the chariots careened around the turn. Cheers, jeers, curses, and joyous shouts urged on the straining horses and sweating drivers.

Lap after lap chariots vied for position. The skill of the drivers as they jockeyed in and out of openings evident in the close calls as chariot wheels closed to within whiskers of each other. Jumping and bumping around the track, the light frames of the racing chariots sometimes seemed to be flying behind the horses. The sixth lap, the half-way mark, closed in on the leaders. A new leader had emerged. The green team Australes, guided by Niger, was leading. Just behind him and unable to close the small gap was Maledicti (Vesanicus, red). Fighting for third place was team Lemures (Julius, white). Contending against them was Gaetuli (Telemachus, white). Two laps later, trouble hit team Maledicti. One of the horses stumbled. Only the skill of Vesanicus saved them from disaster. But, try as he might, Vesanicus was unable to regain his former position and his team fell behind.

As the race wore on, the horses were beginning to show the strain. Some were tiring and losing speed. They fell further and further behind. Other charioteers had conserved their horses' strength and now began to urge them to greater effort. Team Slip Kids (Auriga, green) came from the back of the field and began closing in on the other teams. Each lap saw them passing two and three chariots. Keeping pace with team Slip Kids was team Corinthians (Bellerophone, white). Bellerophone whipped and urged his team on. He took risks that would almost cause him to crash into another chariot, but always managed to just avoid sudden disaster. Team Lotus (Sutor, green) struggled to keep its place with the leaders.

Lap twelve was ahead. The leading teams had just made the final turn before the finish line. The crowd was on its feet, roaring encouragment to the leaders. Forgotten was the ludicrous opening “race”. Forgotten was the months there were no races. Excitement filled the stadium as supporters shouted encouragement to their teams. All eyes were glued to the leading chariots, willing them on. The finish line neared. One hundred yards. Slip Kids and Lotus, with the strange cubes bobbing and jumping about madly, were neck and neck. Corinthians and Pilum right behind them. Charioteers whipped their horses and each other. Each doing their best to take the first place. Twenty five yards. Ten yards.

The race was over! People began settling their bets as the chariots continued around the track, slowing down and cooling off the horses. Some arguments broke out as some bettors argued that their team had won. Then, another trumpet blew. The crowd grew silent as the Races Aedile stood once again. When all was quiet, he spoke.

“Romans! The Quintilis Races are over! The winner of this month's race is.....” Ursus paused, scanning the crowd.

“SLIP KIDS! Driver AURIGA! Owned by P. Curius Hibernicus.”

“Second place,” Ursus had to shout, “belongs to LOTUS! Driver Sutor! Owned by P. Manlius Torquatus.”

“Third place goes to CORINTHIANS, Driver BELLEROPHONE, and owned by L. Valerius Flaccus.

“Fourth place goes to PILUM, Driver M. Domitius, owned by C. Livius Numidicus.”

Ursus took a deep breath and sighed in relief. There should be no riots this month!