Tlaxcaltecan matador Rafael Ortega passed away this week at the young age of 53.
I was privileged to see him in the ring twice, once in León, Guanajuato in January, 2010, in a cartel with El Juli and Mario Aguilar (1991-2018), and then the following year in Tijuana, in a cartel with Humberto Flores and Enrique Espinoza "El Cuate."
In León:
In Tijuana:
El Chihuahua passes the toro Don Renato (ganadería Fernando de la Mora) within a shaft of sunlight.
Photographed at Tijuana's Nuevo Toreo on July 3 of this year.
A picador pics a bull, Carazo (ganadería El Batan), for matador Christian Aparicio.
Photographed at the L.A. Cetto Vineyards in April, 2016.
Matador Christian Aparicio awaits a bullfight a L.A. Cetto Vineyards.
Photographed on April 9, 2016.
More photos of Juan Gómez "Dinastía" at Plaza San Marcos, Aguascalientes, on October 30, 2021:
The corrida at Plaza San Marcos on October 30, 2021, consisted of six retired matadors, followed by Colombian novillero Juan Gómez "Dinastía."
This novillero displayed a commanding presence and transmitting great emotion to the audience with his novillo Don Laza.
Though he did not succeed with his first attempt with the sword, to me he displayed great ability and promises a great future.
Caping his novillo:
Preparing to dedicate his faena:
More of Juan Gómez tomorrow.
A few other moments from the Festival Corrida held at Plaza San Marcos in Aguascalientes on October 30, 2021.
Carlos Barbosa warms up with his capote:
Carlos Barbosa "El Peque" and the novillo Venadito:
Judas Tadeo and the novillo Pinguinito:
This boy served as a banderillero, earning applause from the crowd for his fine efforts:
A native of Aguascalientes, Jorge Delgado "Evodio" capes his novillo Toto:
Ricardo Carmona watches the final moments of his novillo, Gitano.
Carlos Montes holds the ear of his novillo, Principe.
Alexander (Paco) Campos, is a matador born in Zacatecas.
He was one of the matadors who faced a novillo (young bull) during a festival-corrida at Plaza San Marcos in Aguascalientes, on October 30, 2021.
A visit to the chapel:
Capote and hat:
Saluting the crowd:
Facing the novillo Mi Chavo:
Awarded an ear and enjoying his vuelta around the ring:
On October 30,2021, there was a corrida for retired matadors as well as one novillero from Colombia, which took place in Plaza San Marcos in Aguascalientes, as part of the Festival de las Calaveras.
Here are a few scenes from before and during the corrida.
One of the novillos relaxes in the corrals before the event:
One of the bullring attendants:
I believe that this is the horse ridden by the Alguacilillo during the paseillo (opening procession):
The Alguacilillo would perform double-duty as a picador:
The picador's horse, ready for duty:
A member of the plaza's band heads towards his seat:
Bullring assistants enjoy a light moment:
Banderillas and capotes await the toreros:
Young aficionados:
Aguascalientes, Mexico, is the birthplace, literally, of scores of matadors.
Many of them begin by studying technique outside of the Plaza de Toros Monumental de Aguascalientes, like these young aspiring matadors.
Luis David is one of the Adame brothers in the dynasty of matadors from Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Here he performs in the Festival de las Calaveras in Aguascalientes on October 31, 2021.
His first bull, Luminoso (ganadería Begoña):
More photos of Luis David and his second bull tomorrow!
Leo Valadez, one of Mexico's young and talented matadors, from Aguascalientes, performing in Aguascalientes at the Festival de las Calaveras on October 31, 2021.
Caping his first bull, Vivaracho (Perky) (Ganadería Begoña):
Ready to place banderilas:
After a series of passes with Vivaracho:
Citing for the kill. Leo would be awarded one ear:
Leo's second bull, Bien Querido, distracted while Leo makes his dedication before the faena:
With Bien Querido (Begoña):
Photos from Plaza Monumental de Aguascalientes, photographed on October 31 of last year:
Dancers dressed for Día de los Muertos:
An aficionada greets her friends at the bullfight:
Souvenir miniature chaquetilla:
Souvenir matador keychain:
With the novillo Antepasado (ganadería San Martín), for Alejandro Adame:
A Banderillero with Campo Santo, for Emiliano Robledo:
Another novillero from Aguascalientes, Emiliano Robledo, performing at the Festival de las Calaveras novillada at Plaza San Marcos on October 29, 2021.
His first novillo, Buen Recuerdo (ganadería San Martín):
With his second novillo, Campo Santo:
He had a difficult faena with Campo Santo, being upended more than once, but fortunately was not injured:
His award:
Another Aguascalientes novillero, Miguel Aguilar, performing in Plaza San Marcos on October 29, 2021.
Caping his first novillo, Místico (ganadería San Martín):
A rodillas:
Miguel asked to fight the reserve novillo, Espiritú (ganadería San Martín).
Finishing his capework with a flourish:
Miguel was awarded two ears for his performance with Espíritu. He looks upward, likely dedicating the award to his brother Mario.
Alejandro Adame, performing on October 29, 2021, at Plaza San Marcos in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Entering the bullring:
With his first bull, Antepasado (ganadería San Martín):
With his second bull, Pan de Muerto:
Alejandro would win only applause during this novillada.
Souvenir miniature chaquetillas, and montera keychains, for sale outside the Tlaxcala bullring.
Photographed in November 2016.
I have seen Leonardo Benitez perform three times in Tijuana's Plaza Monumental, but the last time was in 2011!
So it was my pleasure to see him perform last Saturday in a festival in honor of Eloy Cavazos at Rancho Santa Alicia, a private ranch southeast of Tijuana.
This was my second time at the lovely Rancho Santa Alicia, the last time being in 2013.
Leonardo's bull, Maestro, from Rancho Santa Alicia's ganadería Cervantes Limón.
Benitez caping the handsome Maestro:
The first series of passes ends inauspiciously:
He quickly regained composure and control over Maestro:
More photos from Rancho Santa Alicia will be coming in a few days!
An array of souvenir Spanish fans, for sale outside Tijuana's Caliente bullring.
Photographed on July 8, 2018.
In November I was part of a tour arranged by the Peña Redondel of Sacramento, California, traveling from Mexico City (see the previous photos from Plaza Mexico), to Guadalajara.
During the trip, one of our stops was in Apizaco, the home of matador Rodolfo Rodriguez, "El Pana."
We visited the home of his mother, and then the home of his sister, which are both virtual shrines to the fond legacy of El Pana, who died of injuries suffered in the bullring in 2016.
Here is a Day of the Dead figurine in the likeness of El Pana, at the home of his sister.
The bull Destino (Bernaldo de Quirós), after its time in the ring with Ernesto Javier "Calita" in Plaza Mexico on December 10 of this year.
One of the monosabios (assistants) at Plaza Mexico brings banderillas to a member of the cuadrilla of Ernesto Javier "Calita." Photographed on November 10 of this year.
Two monosabios (bullring assistants), await their entrance into Plaza Mexico.
The sign on the left is legalese, releasing Plaza Mexico from liability for injuries to those entering the callejón without permission! (I had permission).
Photographed on December 10, 2019.
Joselito Adame passes his first bull, Palomero (Bernaldo de Quirós). He would cut one ear from this excellent bull.