Santoyo returns to bullring as matadora

Special to the Parade

Karla Santoyo

Nineteen-year-old classical lady matador Karla Santoyo returns by popular demand for the second world class bullfight at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10.

Her debut on Jan. 13 was a grand outing for the young lady who is aiming at becoming the fourth active woman matador in the world.

She performed in the classical Spanish style, calm and cool as she moved the bulls from one side of the ring to the other. The crowd was very vocal cheering for her after each close pass that she made. She smiled big and was pleased with the grand valor of her bulls.

Karla’s father is a retired master matador and her mother looked on with interest as their teenage matadora worked the animals and the crowd. “I do know great bulls when I see them,” she was reported saying. “My grandfather has raised fighting bulls for the last 50 years and I am very blessed that I had the opportunity to perform with the young animals that are tested for valor since I was 10-years-old.”

Sharing the card and also returning is the great master matador Cesar Castañeda, who also turned in a sterling performance with his two bulls. The bulls for the 10th are from the ranch of the bullring owner DN Fred Renk and also from DN Rafael Mendoza. They are sleek and very well armed.

Bus service is being offered to and from the bullring Valleywide.

For more information, call (956) 481-3300.