Cock fights

[Escott]

One thing that many Americans don't understand about the "third world" is that the wealthy have as much money, if not more, than the American wealthy. You see it's helpful when 80% of a county's wealth is in the hands of 2% of the population.

hahaha, Only a Dominican would believe that statement. Show me how many Dominicans are on the Forbes list of Worlds Wealthy men.

Bill Gates Rodriguez

Warren Buffet Gonzolez

Shiek Ammad Diaz

Donald Trump Lopez


In all seriousness Billy Gates can buy everyone of your rich guys, your whole country acre by acre and you will get throw in for nuttin! He will still have enough left over to buy the other half of the Island 20 times over.

You get your facts from the same web site my brother AZB gets his?

Escott

 

[sjh]

actually bill gates can/t afford to buy the whole DR....

45K square kilometers/80 billion dollars

works out to 1.78 $/meter if i did my math right....

 

[Golo100]

Serious cock fights

Just a little information on this chopo sport, which is dominated by very rich chopos, who are among who's who in bank accounts in DR.

By now, cock fighting is a very organized "sport" with heavy money being invested. Just like horse stables, there are cock stables called "Travas". The trainers are called "traveros". Most traveros in DR are individual owners who have one or several fighting cocks and train them in their backyards.

The cocks are kept in very small chicken wire fence dens right on the ground and the poorer trainers even tie them up with string.
Trainers go thru a daily ritual of cleaning up their cocks. They use lime and other concoctions. The cock beard is cut off. Some have their crest trimmed. They are equipped with deadly spikes which are now a big business in DR. The government's sports department regulates the business and there was a lot of controversy a couple of years ago where Juan Marichal, the Hall of Fame pitcher was involved.

There are thousands of traveros all over DR. There is a regulatory group that inspects cocks prior to fights to be sure that the feathers or plumage is not contaminated with chemicals that can cause death or incapacity of the attacking bird. Cocks attack the plumage of the opposing bird.

This is strictly a man's entertainment. Few women are in this business and the wives of traveros, trainers and owners are kept away. Young fighters are grown and groomed like thoroughbred horses and sold for small fortunes. For instance, it is not unusual for a top fighter to be in the area of US$10,000-15,000 dollars.

They are kept together in a larger den where they learn to survive eating in the wild. Then as they mature into fighting size they are moved to an individual cell for tough training. They are taught how to chase and are given exercises, just like an athlete.

Those who are into big stakes better know that there are heavy hitters in this game who have the best fighters and best possibilities of winning. The top owners include Edmond Elias, the casino owner, Rafael Perello, owner of Industrias Banilejas and Cafe Santo Domingo, Dr. Contreras and Adriano Rodriguez, who wrote the Dominican bible on cock fighting called "El Gallo de Pelea".

These top owners are into big stakes and have a highly trained staff and facilities with over 20 cocks ready to fight any time. These guys culture their eggs, chicks and the final product, which is the best fighter money can buy. Stay away from fighting cocks from these stables(travas).

TW

 

[kjdrga]

My father in law owns a trava in his village and built a beautiful Gallera when he made his millions in NY. I as a female was always welcomed and spent day in and day out learning the small details of preparing the cocks, the tracking (excerise) and plucking and trimming. I was always welcome to the gallera to play or observe.

but... women were not allowed never the trava when they have their "luna" (menstration) as it brings bad luck to the cocks.

I have many pictures of the trava and the actual sport, unfortunately I don't have a scanner to upload them in.

 

[rafael]

In December I was helping a crew from NYC shoot a pilot for an "off the beaten path" Travel Type show. We shot cock fights in Monte Christi and also the Coliseo Gallistico in SD.

In Monte Christi, galleros arrived on Motos with their gallos in gunny sacks.
The food was that disgusting deep fried, some kind of meat;-) The arena was open air, no AC, and people walked around with little bottles of Brugal.

To me the most ironic thing was watching guys dance Bachata with their girl, while filming the Spikes being fitted on a gallo. Romantic music, dancing and a "warrior" being prepared for battle.

IN SD, the Coliseo was nice, had AC, the food at the restaurants was good. VIP sections, closed circuit TV, everything computerized etc. Club members have assigned parking with their names on the parking spaces.
The gallos are lowered into the ring on a mini crane etc.

MUCH. . . . .different than in smaller towns like Monte Christi. . . . . . . .except when the fight starts! Then it is too chickens fighting to the death.

BTW, don't ever call a gallo, a pollo. Galleros get pissed. They say pollo is for eating!

We also shot a segment at a Trava run by the guy who is president of the Coliseo. It is up in pantojas. They had 400-450 gallos on site in various stages of training.

They had over 12 employees, guard dogs, trainers etc and this was basically done as a hobby!

Ricardo also explained that the Coliseo was a great place to "network". He named some of the "players" that were members etc. So instead of spending sunday watching NFL or golfing, these guys do this.

 

[Jon S.]

Adding something to this...

This isn't directly related to the cock fights but thats how Roy Jones Jr. trains for his fights, by watching cock fights on video and mimicking their moves, that's why he keeps winning so damn much.......:knockedou

 

[jdema]

AWSOME

 

[jdema]

PEOPLE OF THE DR CHECK OUT THESE GAMEFOWL SITES
WWW.PITMASTER.COM
AND
WWW.GAMEROOSTER.COM

 

[suarezn]

This thread brgins back a lot of memories. My grandpa was big into cock fighting - He doesn't do it anymore. We raised our own cocks, trained them and had them fight. We had a few multi fight winners.
Our best one had 9 won fights. That cock was such a great fighter. The first time he fought he went against this veteran cock who had killed about 12 others. I remember it like it was yesterday. We put them in the pit and as soon as our cock tried to get theirs, ours went completely blind. You see there's a lot of trickery in this sport nowdays. Their cock had a certain powder/substance rubbed on him than would make the opposing cock go blind. Our cock took a beating...We were almost ready to get him out of the pit and take the loss, when he got a hold of their cock and just basically stabbed him once right through the neck...and that was it. Killed it almost instantly. The whole place went wild...fights broke out, because of their obvious use of the blinding substance...my grandpa had to be restrained. He wanted to kill these people...anyhow that cock went on to win 8 more fights, even though he was never able to see right again. Eventually we "retired" him and used him for breeding.

I was about 13 then. Great memories!

 

[Andy B]

There is a feature with lots of pictures on cockfighting shot at the gallera in Las Galeras in the Attractions section, List of Attractions, of www.samanaonline.com Chopo or not, cockfighting is the national sport of the DR and is just as much a part of the culture as rum, merengue and cigars.

And by the way, posted earlier in this thread was a comment that NASCAR is the professional wrestling of motorsports. Being good friends of NASCAR's France family for many, many years (including Big Bill himself), I can assure you that the competition is pure and intense, especially with as much money that's involved these days. It's ludicrous to think that there are races being fixed as are the bouts in professional wrestling.

 

[goatfarmnga]

Cock fights are in the US too..Come to S. GA

You can find Cock fights in S Ga too..Most people you would not believe are into it...My brother in Law in the DR has a Gallera and owns 75+ birds..BIG MONEY business in the DR..ALways has been..My father in law raised Raul in the sport..cutting cones etc..Here you can find them tied up or in pens all along the roadways of Georgia. Little Tee Pees for there shelter, or blue barrels on a post...

Here in Ga the Mexicans have some of the best birds..THey sell Game Cock feed at my local feed store so I inquired and found out MOST high Rollers in the town have some part in it Although it is illegal. One man told me the local Sherriff just breaks it up but arrests no one..typical in my county I am told...
I have Game cocks myself but do not fight them. They are for looks and my little yard ornaments. Most will fight others by nature and I have gotten rid of some who were too much fight. People stop by and ask if I sell them...But they are the only roosters that do not attack the kids when playing in the yard! Some of them are so beautiful....like exotic birds! Regular meat bird roosters attack people more often than game cocks..Of course I do not tie mine up, torture them to be attack birds either..They do some horrific things to these birds to make them meaner like they do Pitt Bulls.

You can go to a local goat auction here and there is a man selling spurs and sharpening them for a business every saturday. This is a BIG sport in the USA..

I went to a Fiesta in GUAM and saw lights in the woods, asked what was happening there..Went with my boyfriend (He was Guamanian)..He thought I would freak..but took me to see..All you see is two birds Bamming against each other..no blood or anything so I just did not see the thrill UNTIL I saw the money changing hands..Then I got it!

All the laws in the US will not change this sport..they just get deeper underground wuith it..too much MONEY involved..and the birds are cheap to raise so most anyone can get into it..unlike Horse racing..but there are also backyard horse races in the US that BIG money is bet there too....but that is another story! PAM

 

[tonylmayer8168]

Fighting Game Cock web ring

Hi everyone. I am a RingMaster at WebRing, and just recently started a ring called "Fighting Game Cock". If you have a site and want to join, it's completely free. Just click on this link: http://S.webring.com/wrman?ring=fightinggamecock&addsite . If you know anyone else that might interested, pass the word on. Thanks, Tony

 

[Golo100]

Just an update on DR cockfighting

-This "sport" has gotten more sophisticated as time goes on and Dominican trava owners have globalized. Ing. Tony Diaz recently broke the record of most wins in a year with 102 and passed Edmon Elias's Mauna Loa Trava. Coincidentally enough, as I stated in another unrelated thread about 'winners and losers', Edmon Elias is having a real hard time winning any fights. His cocks are getting trounced and most are being served for stew in record times.

I don't know much about this sport, but I keep informed as to what goes on for other reasons. The world championship which was supposed to have been held in Ecuador appears to have been cancelled. Dominicans are now very influential in the world scene. The best travas are buying their pedigreed cocks in Puerto Rico, and most recent winners are from boricua born and raised. "Galleros" do call "pollos" the young cocks that are less than three months old. They have also established a weight-in system which forces all travas to weight their "pollos" before their third month, otherwise they will not be licensed to fight. This system avoids the serious handicapping problems they had in the past.

This "sport" created a major controversy during Leonel's past administration because of the plastic spikes. This is big business in DR and Juan Marichal was involved in the scandal. The gamecockers have their own TV program in DR and are very well organized. Cafe Santo Domingo owner Perello, continues to be the most influential man in the sport right now with his Induban trava. The typical fighting cock is about 3.11lbs., but we have seen 6 pounders recently, who look like invinsible giants. Edmon Elias prefers the big ones, but the problem with them is that they are too slow.

TW

 

[DominicanScotty]

At the next major intersection east of Cabarete turn inland and on your right you will soon see a cockfighting arena. The town is Saboneta, but I don't know when the events are.

As for animal rights people, I respect their views and I pose this simple question: When you watch the majestic bald eagle swoop down from the sky and grab an unsuspecting fish in its beak, which species do you root for?

Just wondering.

To put it correctly it is not Sabeneta De Yasica, the correct town is Jamao Del Norte. No it does not cost to get into the tipico but it does cost to get into the arena. I know because my family all works there. Enjoy, it is a great time with live bands, cold Presidente, attractive chicas (sorry no putas) not to mention some great action in the arena.