M. Longinus Ursus waited patiently for Drusus Claudius, acting on behalf of his brother the praetor of Narbonensis, Decimus Claudius Russus, to join him in the aedile's booth. The races this month were being dedicated to Appius Claudius, famed for building the great Via Appia. As the younger Claudius joined him, Ursus gave the signal for the preliminary show to begin.

Four men carryied large placards bearing the likeness of Appius Claudius around the Circus, while musicians and singers followed, voicing praise for him. Young girls threw flower petals in front of a chariot bearing a man who held a mask in the likeness of Appius Claudius before his face. Behind the chariot, some minor priests walked, chanting prayers for the great man. Additionally, Ursus had small icons representing the likeness of Appius Claudius handed out to all the men as they entered the Circus. While the pre-race entertainment was not as flashy as some in the past, the wine and food provided by the races' sponsor pleased the people.

As the last of the parade moved off the track, the grounds keepers moved out, smoothing the course for the race. Excitement was building as patrons around the Circus made bets and cast aspersions on each others favorites. Cheers rose as the chariots moved on to the field. Leading them was Team Ira Superum (Hector, red, MAL). Following him was Team Agony (Constant, blue, DDC). Next was Team Australes (Niger, green, LIC). Behind them came Team Gaetuli (Telemachus, white, VVT). Laughter could be heard as Team Lotus (Sutor, green, PMT) entered the course, white chevrons gleaming in the sun and the fuzzy boxes jingling merrily to the motion of the chariot. Sunlight glittered off gold on its front, making many wonder what the crazy Colman was doing now. The driver Sutor stood easily in the chariot, grinning broadly. Behind him was the chariot team Lemures (Julius, white, DCR). DCR's chariot gleamed brightly in the sun, proudly showing off a fresh coat of white paint, the gold trimming glittering. Team Hispania (C. Baeticus, blue, CSF) was next. Its light blue paint setting off the silhouette of a bull on its sides. The sun blazed from the silver bull's head emblazoned on the front of the chariot. Behind Baeticus pranced the horses of Team Corinthians (Bellerophon, white, LVF). Team Stabilum Fabianus (R. Scaurinus, red, CFM) rolled onto the course, pulled by a matching pair of black horses, their yellow harness shining brightly. Team Pilum (M. Domitius, white, CLN) entered next, followed by the final two teams of Dsom (Gomorrah, green, MFS) and Essedum (Pugnax, red, LFE).

As the chariots lined up, silence briefly fell over the crowd. All eyes watched the racing aedile expectantly. Ursus stood, hand raised high. Pausing for a moment, he grinned as he dropped his hand and the trumpets blared. With that, the chariots bolted from their starting positions, quickly spreading out into a snaking line. Heading up the snake was Team Ira Superum, followed closely by Team Agony. Next were the green teams Australes and Lotus, with the white team Gaetuli making a three way race. Barely fifty feet behind them Team Hispania strained to close the gap. Hard on their heels was Lemures and Corinthians. The remaining teams trying desperately to close in on the ones in front of them.

And so it went for five courses around the track. The lead of the pack wavered back and forth between Ira Superum and Agony. By the end of the fifth course, Gaetuli was vying for first place with the leaders. Team Lotus was holding steady in the second rank, alongside Australes and Hispania, who had finally caught up.

It was on the seventh lap that disaster struck. Team Essedum, while trying to get past Team Corinthians, broke an axle. With a horrendous crack, a wheel went rolling across the track as the light chariot bounced against the hard ground, breaking apart quickly. The driver, Pugnax, found himself entangled by the reins and yanked through the front of his chariot. The crowd screamed, some in horror and some in joy, as the hapless man found himself being dragged over the rough ground, bouncing and banging against earth and the tongue that was all that remained of his chariot. Those chariots behind him strove to avoid the wreckage. The horses of Team Dsom, though, were forced to leap over the wreckage, the light chariot hitting what was left of wrecked vehicle and bounced high, almost tossing Gomorrah from his platform. He only saved himself by grabbing tightly to the rail of his chariot. As the last chariot passed the wreckage, slaves ran out on the track, struggling to remove the broken chariot from the track. The horses of Team Essedum continued to race around the track, dragging their helpless, human chariot behind them. The other drivers tried to avoid them as best they could, fearful of causing themselves to crash.

As the loose horses moved to the front of the pack, the limp and battered body of Pugnax broke free of the reins. His body was unmoving and exposed to the racing chariots. Team Ira Superum was in a direct line with him and the horses shied from the body, falling slightly behind the leading chariots. Others also barely managed to steer clear of the severely injured man. As the last of them raced past, the slaves again ran out on the course to drag him clear.

As the final lap approached, the chariots had settled into a battle between Teams Lotus, Lemures, Ira Superum and Agony. Team Hispania was staying neck and neck with Stabilum Fabianus, while the others tried to close the growing gap. With half a length to go, Hispania's charioteer Baeticus lashed his steeds to greater effort. He closed in on Team Agony, passing them and moving up behind the other leaders. Team Lemures and Ira Superum clashed over second place, barely a dozen yards behind Team Lotus. Sutor leaned over the edge of his chariot, his encouraging shouts lost in the shouts and screams of the crowd urging on their favorites.

And then the race was over. Team Lotus, with a broadly smiling Sutor, was the winner of this month's race. In second place was Team Lemures, followed by Team Ira Superum and Team Hispania (third and fourth place respectively). The racing aedile was informed that the charioteer Pugnax was dead, his body broken, cut and all but torn to pieces from being dragged around the course.


UMPIRE NOTE: 20 CUL