Peleas y Palenques
Cockfights are a common occurrence all over Mexico, as popular and part of the culture as charreadas and bull-riding rodeo activities and very common as late-night entertainment during village fairs and festivities, drawing crowds of men and women alike to place their bets and watch their chosen gamecock either rise to glory or bite the dust in the Palenques - what the cockfighting rings that are usually temporary structures set up for the occasion are called.
In Mexico, cockfights are a legal activity, regulated from a central entity in the Federal District (Mexico City) which licenses the sponsor and gives him the right and responsibility of assuring the regulations are followed and that order is maintained.
The stages of a cockfight are several:
- The cocks (gallos) are weighed in and matched up with their prospective contenders based on weight.
- A bird is brought out which will not participate in the fight, but which is used to bait the actual fighting cocks into action and build up its excitement and adrenaline.
- Stainless steel blades are selected and lashed securely onto the spurs of the birds. This step is carried out in the “ring” under the observation of the crowd and cockfight officials.
- The officials check the cocks and the manner in which the blades have been secured and assure all is according to regulation.
- The two fighting cocks are faced off in the center of the ring and the fight begins. Depending on the cocks, the fight can be a quick flurry of flying feathers and dust, or can last into a series of timed “rounds” until either one cock comes out the clear victor, or a stalemate is declared.
Cockfighting Fact Sheet – from the Humane Society of the United States
Originally posted 2009-07-22 11:45:33.
