Discover the Most Dangerous Bull in Bullfighting History

With a long and revered history, bullfighting has had many contenders, both matador and some of the most dangerous bulls ever known. Throughout this controversial history of bullfighting, there have been plenty of unfortunate deaths, both of bull and of matador. One such death- or perhaps more than one- is associated with a bull named Ratón, infamous in Spain for his deadly techniques in the bullring.

In this article, we will go over the facts and figures surrounding the most dangerous bull, perhaps in all of bullfighting history. Ratón has since peacefully passed away, but his time as a Spanish fighting bull not only made him incredibly popular but also feared. With more deaths attributed to him than any other bull, this is the history of Ratón.

Meet Ratón: the Terrible Mouse

Translating literally to mouse, Ratón was born during the month of April in 2001. He was so named because of his small size, despite reaching over 1,000 pounds when fully grown. Gregorio de Jesús, the bull’s owner, raised him on his ranch in Spain alongside rice and oranges. While it may not have been Ratón’s original fate, he was soon destined for the bullfighting ring.

Jesús remarked often about Ratón’s build for a bull. Compared to the average fighting bull, Ratón had longer legs and a more violent head, often swinging his horns from side to side in the ring. Because Ratón entered the bullfighting ring in 2002, at just over a year old. It only took two more years for him to injure his first matador.

However, it was only injuries reported during the first five years of Ratón’s career, not deaths- but these injuries were in the dozens. Between a variety of events, including bull running, this Spanish fighting bull earned a reputation as well as a few nicknames. “The terrible mouse”, “the killer bull”, “the bloody bull”- as Ratón was showcased at more and more events, his name and reputation only grew.

History of Ratón in the Bullring

In August of 2006, Ratón took the life of a man in his 50s who was a spectator at an event. While you might think that’s enough to cancel any future bullfighting events, especially with a bull like Ratón, this was not the case. The tragedy was filmed and distributed, allowing bullfighting clubs a glimpse at Ratón’s power. He was invited back to the same town the following year, to compete in the same event.

And his career only took off from here. In 2008, Ratón killed a second person: a young matador and spectator at an event near Valencia. The victim was in his 20s and many people report him getting trampled as well as tossed around. It is said that Ratón was dangerous in just about every type of bullfighting, including bull running as well as recortes, a type of bullfighting where spectators dodge and hide from fighting bulls in the ring.

It was another spectator that lost his life to Ratón, in the summer of 2011. Many reports claim that the 29-year-old victim was drunk, which would potentially explain why he chose to enter the bullfighting ring illegally when Ratón entered. The man was quickly tossed into the air, lofted atop Ratón’s horns. While he didn’t die in the ring, filmed by many spectators, he did lose his life due to cardiac issues in a hospital later that day.

Ratón’s Legacy, Popularity, and Controversy

There are many controversies surrounding Ratón’s legacy, not to mention bullfighting in general. The deaths attributed to Ratón’s career both helped and hurt him in many ways. While fans clamored for a chance to see the terrible mouse work, many others opposed Ratón’s fighting history in general. Many studies suggest that bulls, particularly fighting bulls, have excellent memories.

This is one of the reasons why many fighting bulls are retired or killed in the bullfighting ring before their next fight: to better protect the matadors who face them. However, Ratón’s owner only ever showcased him in events where he would be allowed to live. Not only did this allow Ratón more fighting expertise, but it also gave him quite the cult following.

Ratón’s owner was able to charge up to ten times as much to feature his bull in a variety of events, and bullfighting clubs and venue owners scrambled to make it happen. Not only were they willing to pay exorbitant fees to host Ratón (sometimes as much as $10,000), but the public frequently paid double or more for tickets to see such a beast in action.

Ratón’s Retirement and Death

Unfortunately, Ratón’s fame could not save him from old age. He was retired at the age of 11 after developing arthritis and a limp that would not go away, something that appeared to sicken the bull. Given the fact that a ten-year-old bull is roughly 60 in human years, Ratón’s passing likely happened when he was in his eighties! In March of 2013, Ratón died on his home ranch, peacefully and comfortably.

Taxidermied by his owner, Ratón’s legacy lives on. While the popularity of bullfighting as a whole has shifted and changed with the decades, there’s no denying just how spectacular and fearsome Ratón was while in his prime!

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