It is the largest prize awarded in current bullfighting: a suit of lights, rioja and gold, custom-made by Antonio López, from the Fermín tailor shop, valued at 12,000 euros. That’s him trophy which the Centro Riojano of Madrid gives each season to the winner of the San Isidro Fair.
Last year’s lucky winner was Morante de la Puebla, who on Tuesday night excitedly picked up such a precious gift and which will premiere at the next April Fair in Seville, where it is announced for four afternoons.
The Sevillian bullfighter was unable to pick it up last autumn due to his health problems, and has now gone to Madrid due to the “threat” from the promoters that the dress would finally be left hanging in a display case. This was made publicly known by the secretary of the jury, Vidal Pérez Herrero, who pointed out that the verdict had been adopted on June 17 unanimously by all its members.
The award ceremony brought together numerous fans, in front of whom the Sevillian bullfighter thanked him for the award and stated: “La Rioja is part of two great moments in my career: when I won Arnedo’s Golden Shoe (in 1996, while I was still a bullfighter) and this, which is the best award that exists in bullfighting.” “How was I going to retire after getting this trophy?” he added. “The day I release it (the date was not clarified publicly) I will try to rise to the occasion and I will carry La Rioja and this beautiful meeting with all of you in my thoughts,” Morante concluded.
The president of the Rioja Center, José Luis Rupérez, sang the merits of the winner, and assured: “Morante does not bullfight to convince, but to excite, and in San Isidro he once again reminded us that bullfighting is not a sum of passes, but a language.”
He pointed out that the award was born in 2000 – this is its 21st edition – “to reclaim the name of La Rioja and elevate the color of red wine to the category of bullfighting color”; and thanked the institutional support of the Government of La Rioja (the Minister of Culture of the autonomous community was present) and the sponsorship of the Marqués de Vargas and Muga wineries and the Carriquiri livestock farm.
“One more year, Rioja once again dresses up in lights,” he concluded.