Posted on 01/03/2007 4:25:00 PM PST by devane617
LA GLORIA - There is no need to go to Mexico, Spain or to South America to watch a bullfight.
This small town in western Starr County is the home of the country's only bullring that features fighting bulls.
But unlike other bullrings where blood is what seems to attract spectators, the bullfights at Santa Maria Bullring are bloodless - bulls are fought with a red cape, not killed.
The bullring is starting its winter season with four world-class bloodless bullfights scheduled for Jan. 14 at the arena, at the intersection of FM 1017 and FM 755 in La Gloria, a small town about 45 miles west of Raymondville.
The event, set for 4 p.m., should last about three hours.
Bullfighters Enrique Delgado, from Monterrey, Mexico, and Longino Mendoza, out of Houston, will fight the bulls owned by Fred Renk, a semi-professional bullfighter who opened the ring in 2000.
"This is a world-class bullring," Renk said.
"It has been in operation for six years. We plan to make some improvements during 2007."
Mario Ordaz and his horse El Guapo will give a horseback riding show.
Also, Andalucian horses from McAllen will perform.
By the way, This is in deep south Texas.
What is your opinion on dog fighting?
I'm sure that PETA would find some problem, but it's a fun time.
I'm far from PC, but bullfighting is disgusting. If it were done by death row inmates with rubber swords, that would be fine.
Both sound like pointless cuelty to me.
I had to be one of the last North Americans to see Edith Evans fight a bull on horseback. It was a wonder to behold. She had the horse under full control using only her legs, and watch the horse go right in under the horns was scary.
Real Bull fighting, as in Hemingway's books is actually an Art. Some may not like it but, hey, I don't care for Maplethorp's photography or Miro's paintings but millions do. I like your songs but Hillary probably doesn't. LOL
I understand. But no animals were tortured during Maplethorp's photography. Oh, wait a minute. He could have violated them.
I wonder if you've ever been.
I went once in Madrid when I visited Spain many years ago. It was the thing to do, but I wasn't really prepared to enjoy it. Surprise, surprise. It really is an art, and I could see this in a single visit. I had another week in Spain after that and I really thought about returning to see the bullfights in another (less exalted) venue but I just didn't have the time. I did watch on TV a couple of times in bars that I visited though. There's cruelty, to be sure, when the inept guy(s) do(es) the fighting and the bull virtually bleeds to death, but when a master matador is doing the fighting it's a pretty impressive event.
ML/NJ
I had always heard that in Portuguese bullfighting, the bull is not killed.
True?
Just thought of something. `Bloodless' bullfighting must mean: no picadors on horseback to stick the bull with their lance, no banderilleros to pierce the bull's shoulders with what are miniature harpoons that cripple the bull's ability to lift its head (and horns), and no matador (lit. killer) to kill the beast with a sword that reaches to its heart.
Does that mean that bloodless bullfighting evens the playing field, and that the toreador must face a fierce, uninjured bull that needs not fear death?
Boy when you parenthesize, you sure do make a guy dizzy; now I know what the the bulls feel like.
I've heard that Mexico doesn't allow the bull to be killed.
That twern't nutin'.
ML/NJ
I agree. I just wondered which animals the poster thought deserved to be treated humanely.
A couple of months ago "somebody" killed a swan here on the lake. It was a mercy killing because some idiot had shot it with 3 arrows and it was looking pretty rough.
After an informal lake association meeting a few of us decided that nobody would see or hear anything if someone put it out of it's misery.
Good for you. I will never understand mistreating animals for the fun of it.
How do you feel about cow tipping? :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.