anonimo - Torero Rafael González y Madrid (Machaquito)

Rafael González and Madrid (Machaquito)
By taking the alternative of hands from Bombita (Emilio), he handed him the bull Costillares, a black ribbon, from Veragua, as was said, and his rise to fame was swift. The bullfighting principles of this matador were the same as those of the previous one, until both took their alternative on the date mentioned when discussing his companion. It should be noted that Machaquito, before joining Lagartijo, had already fought a little, though not much, with Revertito, Rafael el Gallo, and Redondo. His professional pride and his great stabs opened the doors to fame and built his prestige; he did everything, and although he did not shine for his finesse, his bullfighting shame and the firmness of his will were powerful engines to facilitate his rise. The setbacks he suffered did not weaken his spirit; it was a case similar to what Diego Puerta offers today, and we cannot watch him fight without remembering that brave Córdoba bullfighter, who was also not lacking in skill when caping, placing banderillas, and passing the muleta. As a bullfighter, he participated in 754 runs and killed 1,853 bulls, including his campaigns in Mexico during the winters of 1903-1904 and 1912-1913. He suffered seventeen accidents of varying severity, the most significant of which occurred in Palma de Mallorca on July 4, 1909, causing him to miss 32 runs. He was awarded the Cruz de Beneficencia for his memorable feat in Hinojosa del Duque (Córdoba), where, fighting on August 29, 1902, a wooden stand collapsed. Since there was no barrier in the arena, many spectators fell into the ring, and thanks to Machaquito, who immediately, without hesitation, killed the bull being fought with a superb stab, a catastrophe was avoided. His last run was in Madrid on October 16, 1913, without prior announcement of his retirement. Sharing the ring with Rafael el Gallo and Juan Belmonte, when Belmonte was being awarded his doctorate by the Córdoba matador, and the last bull he fought, called Lunarejo, a red one, from the Bañuelos estate. Five days later, on the 21st, while staying in a Madrid hotel with his family, and in a moment of affectionate exuberance, he had a fit of his own, typical of his character and nervousness, took a scissors, and cut his ponytail. Two days earlier, Ricardo Bombita had bid farewell. The era of Joselito and Belmonte was beginning. Machaquito lived retired in Córdoba, enjoying what he earned from the bulls, until November 1, 1955, the date of his death. He was born in that city on January 2, 1880.