EL TOREO DE TIJUANA

by J.F.

June 11, 1961

Bulls of Miguel Franco for Jaime Bravo, Jose Ramon Tirado and Victor Huerta, an impressive cartel that brought a full house to the Downtown Plaza. The atmosphere was tinged with excitement hours before the paseo. But the atmosphere was misleading. The paseo was 12 minutes late; the bulls were small, tricky and erratic; and the competition between Bravo and Tirado was non-existent.

Bravo was not his suicidal self - he met his first bull with good cape work and sent the horses out after the first pic. He began the faena by teaching the bull to follow the cloth but in subsequent passes, lost control and the bull began to follow him. he did earn a few ovations but took five trips with the sword and an aviso before dropping his bull. Jaime dropped to his knees to meet the second bull, again sent the horses out after a single pic and gave an exciting faena with the red flannel. He spent much of the time looking into the crowd while working very close to the horns. Three trips with the sword but the crowd gave him a standing ovation as he circled the arena.

Tirado's first bull entered like a race horse then after the first pic it came to an abrupt halt and took a defensive stand. From this point on the bull was tricky, dangerous and unworkable. There was no objection from the crowd when Tirado dispatched it immediately. His second bull was erratic but much better. Tirado heard ovation and music for cape work then, after the crowd insisted, he placed his own banderillas. His faena was good with a fair share of the crowd pleasing passes in incite olés and ovations. His first sword his bone then, while citing for the second trip, the bull charged. Tirado stood firm and placed the sword while receiving the bull A tremendous ovation and one ear.

Victor Huerta was fair competition for the two senior matadors; he worked close to his bulls and produced the same spectacular passes. Huerta had the better bulls of the day if any could have been called good. he placed his sword on the mark of his first bull and earned an ear. His marksmanship with the second was not so good and the crowd was already leaving so Huerta left the arena in silence.

It wasn't really a bad day but more had been expected of this program.