Four outstanding vaquillas from the herd of don Fred Renk provided the raw material for a successful festival held at the Santa Maria Bullring on July 2 to celebrate Renk’s 75th birthday.

A large group of friends and aficionados from Mexico and across the USA were there to enjoy the bullfight and to wish Renk well on this special day.

Special guests of honor included Pedro and Marisol Garfias, owners of a renowned bull ranch in Mexico, who were impressed by the overall quality of the festival, but especially by the bravery of the vaquillas.

Dr. Mario Ochoa, an accomplished aficionado practico who has been a friend of Renk’s for many years; and Dennis and Dahlia Klepac from the Club Taurino de Chicago also attended.

Covering the festival for media organizations were Patricia Lopez, from El Nuevo Heraldo newspaper of Reynosa and Edelia Hernandez Rosales from El Mañana of Monterrey. And there was live television coverage for Rick Diaz’s program “Con Mi Gente” on KRGV Channel 5.

The matadora Lupita López and the aficionados prácticos Jim Verner, Marco Antonio García, and Cesar Martínez were on the program, along with José Martin del Campo, Charlie Kappa, and the famous Fernando “Corralito” Corral. Matadora Raquel Martinez and matadors David Renk and Longinos Mendoza served as the cuadrilla, moving the vaquillas and making quites throughout the afternoon. The legendary taurino, Doctor Jim Claridge, was the Juez de Plaza, keeping the activities ordered and serious.

Lupita Lopez and Jim Verner took the two larger animals, while the two smaller vaquillas were fought by the others. All the animals displayed the bravery and noble charges that allowed everyone, including many from the crowd, to get their fill of toreo once the announced participants were finished with their faenas.

But the real stars of the afternoon were “Conquistador,” the sire of the four brave vaquillas, and Fred Renk, the ganadero who owns and manages the herd that grazes at his ranch, La Querencia. Just like their sisters that have been tested over the past five years, today’s animals showed all the qualities that bullfighters want in the bulls they face – bravery, with a readiness to charge and focus on the capes; a tendency to improve their charges when they are fought well (although they quickly learn to go for the torero’s body when fought poorly); and charging with recorrido and nobleza so that talented toreros can make toreo a true art form.

There is always an element of luck when raising fighting cattle, but this luck has to be matched by careful selection and Fred Renk has managed to get the right mix that make bullfighters want to face his stock. Watching the vaquillas this afternoon, Renk must have felt proud, and lucky, of the success of his herd.

The first vaquilla of the afternoon, for Lupita, was run excessively around the ring before the matadora entered to settle the animal down and show good work with both the capote and muleta. After grabbing the rose from the vaquilla’s shoulders in the simulated sword thrust, Lupita was awarded one ear.

Verner received his animal without the customary running around the ring and performed veronicas to open and then made a quite of gaoneras. He then invited Lupita in for a quite, and she did smooth chicuelinas. With the muleta, Verner composed a linked and structured faena with both hands. He, too, got the rose on the first try and was awarded two ears.

The third animal, for Marco Antonio, charged readily from afar and allowed Marco to open with veronicas and chicuelinas and then begin his faena with two impressive péndulos. After a varied faena, he too was awarded one ear.

The last vaquilla of the afternoon was received by Cesar Martínez. After excellent work with the cape and some artistic series with the muleta, Martínez got the final ear of the day.

With all four animals, after the featured performer finished, there were still plenty of brave charges for the others on the card. Jose Martin del Campo made veronicas that would be the envy of Manolete himself, and Charlie Knapp proved his valor and skill as he passed the cows close to his body with the muleta.

At one point, as he watched his brave heifers, Renk was unable to stay in his seat in the palco and entered the ring to show all that, even as he enters his 75th year, he handles the muleta like he did over half a century ago.

And then came the retired professionals. Corralito showed how, in spite of his advanced years and a twisted leg that resulted from an auto accident several years ago, he can still run the hand and templar with the best. David Renk also showed how derechazos and naturales should be done with art. Raquel Martinez and Longinos Mendoza, in addition to their work of helping, both took the muleta and showed how they, too, can make art on the sands of the Plaza Santa Maria.

When the last vaquilla had returned to the corral, the crowd feasted on the banquet of wild boar, venison and shrimp than Fred and Lisa Renk had prepared. It was truly an enjoyable day for all.

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