I need to do the despedida here too,’” Verner says. And so I told Fred, ‘I've been with you 20 years. “Well, I'm 77 years old so it's time I quit. In the cantina Renk built beside the bullring, Verner stands among countless photos of matadors, bullfights and memories. One of those close friends is seasoned bullfighter of 60 years, Jim Verner. Renk has invited old friends from this era and their children, now matadors themselves, back to the Valley to take part in these fights. So, I need to sell it so I can sit out there and enjoy it,” Renk says. In his prime, the bullfighting world knew David as “ El Tejano,” America’s youngest Matador De Toros. ![]() It’s something Renk has been considering since the death of his son David in 2018. I mean, I just want to go in the back and fish,” Renk says. “You know, I get ahead of myself at my age. But with no one to pass the cape down to, hosting takes its toll. ![]() Renk has dedicated his life to the fight and the bulls. It’s quick removal is a symbolic kill and the fight is over. Instead, the matador must grab a flower that's Velcroed on the back hump of the bull. But in the U.S., it’s different - the bull remains unharmed. Traditional bullfights in Spain and Mexico end with the bull being killed. “That pass was called a ‘Valencia,’” Renk’s voice reverberates from the loudspeakers. Raw, genuine and unpolished on the mic, he leads the audience in "Oles" and deals out educational tidbits on bloodless bullfighting. Though Renk is hanging up his cape after these last events, he’s still hands-on at the arena, wearing many hats. The audience is here not only to see the event, but to witness the despedida – the farewell tour, or victory lap – of its retiring host, 83-year old Fred Renk.įred Renk, left, owner of the Santa Maria Bullring. There’s a majestic bull painted on its side and almost every seat is taken. Just inside the gates stands an iron coliseum-like arena about two stories tall. It’s the Santa Maria Bullring, the only place in Texas where there’s bloodless bullfighting. ![]() But just off Ranch Road 1017, red and orange flags line the fence of a 65-acre ranch. In the unincorporated city of La Gloria in South Texas, there’s not much to see other than mesquite trees, brush and an occasional roadrunner. In the U.S., where traditional bullfighting is illegal, bloodless bullfighting – known as the “ballet of life”– has connected two cultures along the border in the Rio Grande Valley for decades.īut the final curtain may be falling on this 20-year tradition, as the man who brought bloodless bullfighting to the Lone Star State takes his final bow – his despedida. It's called the “ballet of death,” and matadors, like professional dancers, require immense athleticism, stage presence and talent to master a skill that goes back centuries. The line between sport and art has always been blurred when it comes to bullfighting.
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