DALE: You were trained by Jaime Bravo?

WALTER: Jaime was my true maestro. He was very strict -- allowed me no crowd pleasing antics. Was a good friend and an excellent maestro.

He also introduced me to Cesar Giron, who helped me at tientas several times, as well as to Carlos Arruza, who invited me to Pasteje, many times, to practice. Carlos also had a hand in my training, mostly about "reading" fighting animals, and what to do and when to do it!

 

DALE: We'll get into this in a bit, but, wasn't Arruza trainer for Jaime Bravo... Bravo was your trainer... then Arruza , Bravo & you all end up dying or severly hurt in car accidents?

WALTER: Correct Dale, Carlos refined Jaime, in Spain, and was responsible for his manager and several corridas, including Valencia, where he cut a hoof. He took the alternativa one year later in Valencia.

As to injuries, you are right. I was driving down the Santa Ana Fwy, after returning from Cali, Columbia, and was hit from behind by a woman during a police pursuit -- resulting in temporary paralysis and cranial fracture, which have caused a permanent headache and back pain... more of a pain in the ass!

Jaime was killed on the highway, in a car with Eloy Cavazos, returning from a tienta at Chucho Cabreras. Carlos Arruza was killed on a rain slick highway, coming home the backway from Pasteje.

One other person was part of my management team -- Dr. Gustavo Arrevalo -- who connected me with the Choperas, due to his friendship with Paco Camino. Dr. Arrevalo was killed in a car accident, going home in Cuidad Satellite.

 

DALE: In what plazas did you appear as a novillero?

WALTER: El Torero de Tijuana, El Toreo in Mexico City, Plaza San Marcos, Aguscalientes, Juarez, Matamoros, San Luis Rio Colorado, Nogales, Saltillo, Monterrey, Xico, Vera Cruz,Tepatitlan, Zacatecas, Ensenada, Cali Columbia, Guatemala City & Coatepeque, Guatemala, Nimes Tierra Santa & Benidorm (preparing for a formal Spanish tour). Others I have long forgotten over the 40 years.

 

DALE: Greatest afternoon?

WALTER: Probably three or four. Two ears and the Dr. Gaona trophy, a Silver Ear (I still have it) Tijuana, salida en hombros, which took me to El Toreo in Mexico City, six months later.

Second appearance in El Toreo the following year, bulls from Presillas, all in 390-420 kilos, vuelta, dianas, petition with an AVISO, I sent you the clipping, plaza went nuts.

Indulto of Penuelas bull in Plaza San Marcos, "Sol de la Manana", honorary two ears & tail, salida en hombros.

Santo Cristo crystal plaque, triunfador, two ears & tail & salida en hombros in Cali Columbia with Joaquin Camino and two Columbian novilleros. Buried it with my mother in 1987 (she lugged it in her purse all the time).

 

DALE: Wasn't there an incident in the plaza, in San Luis Colorado, where you performed so well, as sobresaliente, that the aficionados actually passed the hat to buy a bull for you?? It was in one of Bravos' corridas?

WALTER: Dale, you've done a little research. Yes, the corrida was to provide a jump start for Jose Gomez. Also fighting, Jaime Bravo and Jose Ramon Tirado, don't even remember the ganaderia. All three matadors were friends and supporters of mine. It was a "corrida de toros", with bulls all over 450 kilos and I got to do "quites" with each bull. I can't remember it all, but on the second to last bull, I did a "quite de oro", from the center of the ring, and the crowd got nuts. I think Jaime, who was a really generous mentor, started talking with Dr. Gustavo Arevalo in one of the barreras, who didn't know me at that time, and got him to start passing the hat. Jaime killed that bull, cut an ear, and dragged me in the turn of the ring. We went to the center and he said, "Guero look at the judge and raise your index finger." The Guero chant started and got louder. The last bull was for Jose Gomez who was completely forgotten - I fought the gift bull, was triumphant, and went two weeks later to Nogales.

 

DALE: You had one or two gorings?

WALTER: The first cornada was in El Toreo, on Christmas Eve, the first time I fought there. Left leg, three trajectories discovering the femoral artery, also fractured my jaw (prognosis muy grave)! Was gored in the mouth in La Barca Jalisco - two years later in La Barca had scrotum torn open (never fought there again). Concussion in Benidorm which put an end to the European expedition. Never had a chance to go back.

 

DALE: You were about ready to take the alternativa when the accident occurred?

WALTER: Dale, again you did a little research, or read EL REDONDEL. Dr. Gaona offered the alternativa for me to Paco Ros & Dr. Gustavo Arevalo in Plaza Mexico with the following condition -- that I go to Spain & France, with the Choperas, fight at least 20 novilladas with the same success I was having in Mexico.

I realize that Dr. Gaona promised many toreros many things. He never lied to me. It might not happen that week, or next, BUT, as far as I was concerned, IT HAPPENED. That is one reason I became so bitter when I was forced to quit after the accident.

 

DALE: The wreck took you out of the bullfight for good?

WALTER: Dale, I woke up at UCLA, on a rubber support sheet, with some kind of fluid that was surrounding me. I had electrodes everywhere possible. There was a support structure on my neck and some nonsense around my back to neck -- partial paralysis through the right side, substantial head fracture -- I was scared shitless (there is no gentle way to say it)... language was difficult... so was eating. I was advised ,when I did get out of the hospital, NOT TO EXPERIENCE ANY SHARP PHYSICAL CHALLENGE OR BLOW! In all probability, were that to have happened in this time frame, I'd have been fighting again in six months. That was the amount of time, in those days, that, with therapy, I was able to jog again.

 

DALE: After the wreck you stayed away for quite a while & then came back down the road again?

WALTER: I had established myself in the horse industry. During the process, two close friends, from the University of Mexico, came into town on business. Lic. Francisco Aranda and, now, Senator Joaquin Cisneros... that was about 20 years ago. They insisted on going to TJ, because Manolo Martinez was fighting. We had fought togther, as novilleros, in La Aurora. His picador was "Chito" Munoz, another good friend. We all had dinner together, afterwards. It sort of gave me a new interest and a desire to, at least, be a spectator. Eventually, I met Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza, with whom I had a profound mutual interest in horses.

 

DALE: You are now, I daresay, one of the foremost experts on horsecare in the West?

WALTER: I am writing you about 20 days after judging the Canadian Pinto Nationals at the Agroplex in British Columbia. I was able, during my stay in Mexico, to advance my education. I received my doctorate in large animal reproduction, at the University of Mexico School of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnical Studies... thanks to Dr. Arevalo. I, then, went to Texas A&M and got a Masters, in Large Animal Serology, with a Minor in Cytology. Been fortunate enough to have trained, and shown, and also have bred 11 World or National Champion horses in several divisions.

 

DALE: This has brought you to several events with rejoneadores & the border bullfights, correct?

WALTER: Yes - in my mind Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza is doing things that only he can do. He has brought the horse into "los toros", the way no other rejondeador has ever done, in my humble opinion. I have brought several friends and students to see what he does. It allows them to appreciate the "entire picture"... something they might never have done.

 

DALE: How does it feel to be indrectly related to the bullfight?

WALTER: I have been offered the opportunity to go to tientas, train, and even fight in "festivales". I am happy that a few people, like yourself, remember who I was, and what I tried to do. I am only too pleased to say hello to old friends and "companeros del ruedo". I love sitting in the "palco" and evaluating.

I saw the "toro bravo" the way few have, triumphed in major plazas, and was respected by my peers (whether they liked it or not). Now, I can appreciate it all, indirectly, with a beer and a lovely lady on my arm!!!!!!!

 

DALE: What is your website?

WALTER: DrWalterOnLine.com

 

DALE: Perhaps you would care to comment on a few people from the past and present. For starters, who are the people, now, you think are really good?

WALTER: Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza, great horseman, who understands how to fight, with great creativity and art. He is truly in his own world of tauromaquia! Enrique Ponce, a brilliant artist, when he has his bull. "El Juli" can make almost any bull "his bull". "El Zotoluco" tremendous "pundonor" and a profound matador with most bulls. Sebastian Castella (the French matador) in Madrid this year, most successful -- we'll see.

 

DALE: Now, from the past... Carlos Arruza?

WALTER: Because of Jaime Bravo and Budd Boetticher, Carlos took the time at his ranch to let me fight cows, and would slip in a technical point at the appropriate time - he saw it happen, how to make it happen, when to make it happen - cold as ice - brilliant, even as he grew older. It helped him a lot as a rejondeador.

 

DALE: Joselito Torres, the Mexican, not the South American. I think you were in Nogales as a sobresaliente with him??

WALTER: Jose was a nice guy. To mention him in respect to the people who I have previously named makes no sense.

 

DALE: Jaime Bravo?

WALTER: Jaime could have been a figura. Carlos Arruza didn't help him because he felt generous... Jaime had talent, great valor, and great artistic capability WHEN HE FELT LIKE IT. His sense of "showbiz" branded him as a "tremendista". IF he had concentrated on the work ethic he forced me into, spent less time with any "taquillera", who flashed a skirt, or any Countess, who dropped her drawers, he would be spoken of today with a different tone.

 

DALE: Robert Ryan, didn't you appear in some festivales together?

WALTER: Probably the only Rondeno style matador that the USA has produced. He was always polite and correct. We fought together in TJ, we know what the history of that "festival" was. I treasure the silver ear I won that day. His parents helped me after the corrida and cornada in 'El Toreo", driving me to TV appearances and lectures. I am glad he is happily married and a successful artist. He should have confirmed in Madrid & Plaza Mexico. He deserved it!!

 

DALE: El Cordobes?

WALTER: Since I was well ensconced in the Chopera household by the time he got to Mexico, I spent no time with him. I was closer to Paco Camino due to Dr. Arevalo, I wasn't allowed into the "Cordobes" camp. Both these matadors were managed by the Choperas. He was a spectacle.

 

DALE: Joselito Huerta?

WALTER: Did not know him well. He and Jaime Bravo were courteous and slightly friendly. I saw him many times, and his "toreo" was very exciting. He was very much the "dominador". He became an excellent Charro later in life and had his own association.

 

DALE: Any others you would like to mention?

WALTER: Cesar Giron, extremely dominant and artistic at the same time. He was a good friend of Jaime's and was a great help at the tientas. Manolo Martinez, one of the top ten all time Mexican matadors (need I say more). Ruben Salazar (almost unknown), from Aguascalientes. I saw his alternativa in Plaza San Marcos, three ears & a tail. He was badly managed and could have been a person to contend with. My banderillero de confianza Felipe Gonzalez (ex-matador) was patient and protective and another good friend.

 

DALE: Anything else you would like to talk about before closing?

WALTER: Ganderos: Pepe Madrazo, who produced great bulls, in La Punta, that had great presence, the ability to continue after more than one pic with brilliance and honesty. I was a regular at the ranch, where many of bigger name weren't invited. Luis Manuel Ruiz Barrios, of Presillas, in Zacatecas, another ganadero of impressive brave bulls. These bulls could also continue solidly after more than one pic. "Embesitir" again and again which made the "tanda" build for the 'torero" and more importantly for the crowd. Since these bulls were astifino and paliabierto, many toreros avoided them. I am proud to have been invited to every tienta they had.

 

DALE: Final comments?

WALTER: I think that perhaps had Fulton, Robert Ryan and myself come along today, with acceptance of toreros like Sebastian Castella & Juan Bautista (French), toreras like Christina Sanchez or the novillera Hilda Tenorio, we would have been appreciated for what we were doing, rather than being an "oddity". The ability to "torear" is not limited to Latinos (I am 1/2) I truly believe. Bruce Hutton, who I helped train a million years ago, continues to fight, as an aficionado practico, without any type of "racismo". I am truly glad for the opportunities offered me. I am truly glad that I was able to triumph in several countries.