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TEXAS TIENTA. FULFILLING A DREAM |
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TEXAS TIENTA. FULFILLING A DREAM |
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Almost a decade ago, Fred Renk began working on a dream. I should say “another dream” since Fred’s life has been filled with dreams, dreams he worked to make come true. Bitten by the bullfight bug, Fred fought as a novillero in the 1960s. Then during the 1980s, he managed his son, David Renk “El Tejano” in his successful career as a novillero and matador, highlighted with the alternativa in La Plaza Mexico. Fred went on to found IATA (International Association of Taurine Aficionados) and has organized yearly festivals for aficionados since 2000. He began a bullfight school and even built a plaza de toros at his ranch in La Gloria, Texas, where he promotes bloodless bullfights over the winter. But his biggest dream was to have a ganaderia brava.
Like all ganaderos of fighting bulls, Fred found it is a
difficult task. No matter how much care
is given to the raising and 
election of the sementales, vacas and vaquillas,
there is still a matter of luck. Fred’s
first attempt didn’t give him the results he wanted, so he sold off his
existing herd and imported new animals, 24 cows and a semental from Don Rafael
Mendoza, with pure San Mateo lineage.
The semental, Conquistador (number 25), was fought during the 2005
winter season of bloodless bullfights at Fred’s Plaza Santa Maria. Matador Enrique Delgado was awarded a
symbolic two ears and tail and, due to his extraordinary qualities, Conquistador
was saved as a seed bull. It is hard to
image Fred’s feelings – hope mixed with the anxiety – as he waited to test the
first daughters of Conquistador born on La Querencia.
The first test came earlier this year, on March 9, when four vaquillas were to be tested at the IATA Convention. Due to the strong Texas wind that came up on that day, only two were tested. But they showed the style that told Fred he was on the right track. He just needed to test some more to make sure the genetic qualities – nobleza, recorrido, fijeza, bravura – that make good toreo possible were consistent in his herd. So, on May 3, he decided to test two more.
Jim
Verner David
Renk
César Martínez Enrique delgado
Along with matadors David Renk and Enrique Delgado, and aficionado Cesar Martinez, I was honored to participate in this important testing. And what a success it was! Two vaquillas, “Nuevo Mundo” (number 3) and “Tejana” (number 5), charged with all the smoothness any torero could desire. With their heads lowered, their noses almost rubbing the sand, these vaquillas followed the lure as if they had been trained. Those of us who were testing got our fill of toreo. Even my daughter, Morgan, the last of my four children to get into the ring, made her debut. The vaquillas seemed to go on charging forever, without getting “malas ideas” and start looking for the torero’s body. I am not sure who tired out first – the vaquillas or the bullfighters. I just know that in the end we were happy. Happy for how we had enjoyed ourselves, and even more happy for Fred Renk, ganadero de toros bravos.
