The Juarez Bullring Book

Matadores Latinos, out a few years back, is still available via http://www.floricantopress.com and orderable in most big book stores. While the title is in Spanish, the book is in English and covers the history of the Plaza De Toros Monumental in Juarez, long since torn down.

The book offers brief profiles of many toreros who appeared in the Monumntal, though not all. Some have passed, such as Manuel Capetillo, Felix Briones, Bernardo Valencia and Pepe Luis Hurtado, since the book was released and are thus dealt with as still alive at the time of publication.

There are several fine photos, including several published no place else before. Queretano, Jesus Solorozano, Fernando Dos Santos, Cavazos, Silverio  and Gaston Santos are some of them.

Bios include Manolo Dos Santos, Paco Camino, Cordobes, the Capetillos, the Silevtis, the Arruzas, Marcos Ortega, the Armillitas, Rafael Rodriguez, Calesero, Luis Procuna, Jaime Bravo, John Fulton, Guillermo Montes Sortibran, Guillermo Carvajal, Felix Briones,  Mauro Liceaga, Manolo Martinez, Eloy Cavazos, Mariano Ramos, John Fulton, Sidney Franklin, Francisco Ruiz Miguel, Miguel Villanueva, Mario Sevilla,  Raul Ponce De Leon, Rafaelillo, Antonio Del Olivar, Antonio Urrutia, David Renk, El Charro, Alfredo Leal, Jose Antonio Gaona, Rogelio Leduc, Cesar Giron and more.

Colmenar Viejo

The end of August brings the annual fair in Colmenar Viejo near Madrid, with a week of bullfighting and other festivities.

The traditional feria has not been without disaster.

In 1985, the rising matador de toros Jose Cubero "El Yiyo" came to Colmenar as a last mintue substitute for Curro Romero. From the final bull of this particualr corrida he gave a glorious faena and delivered a devastating sword thrust,  but was tossed and while on the ground, gored from the back/side into the heart. He was posthumosuly granted two ears.

Decades before, another incident happened that has been all but forgotten by history. The 21 year old brother of Paco Peribanez, Tomas Peribanez, was gored while testing a bull for his brother with the capote. He took a massive wound in the groin that extended into his intestines and caused his death a short time later.

Still, many top names in the apst were regualrs at this festival, including the beloved Antonete, who ahd great cartel in this plaza.

Once again, this year's festival starst the last week in August.