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The track was long and straight with tall columns marking each end. The charioteers, with chariots of two horses or four, commonly raced for seven laps. Surviving was almost as difficult as winning: The sharp turns and high speeds made chariot races nearly as bloody as combat games with gladiators and wild animals. Good crack-ups, known as naufragia (shipwrecks), would have pleased the crowd and caused several fatalities.