The jury has unanimously decided to award this prize to ‘El Raso de Portillo’ Livestock for its historical roots dating back to the Late Middle Ages, making it one of the oldest fighting bull farms in Spain and the only one privileged to open the royal festivities. ‘El Raso de Portillo’ is a faithful and vivid reflection of the oldest bullfighting tradition in Castilla y León.
March 28, 2025
Castilla y León |
Department of Culture, Tourism, and Sports
‘El Raso de Portillo’ Livestock has been honored with the Castilla y León Bullfighting Award for the 2024 edition. The jury unanimously agreed to grant this award «for its historical roots dating back to the Late Middle Ages, making it one of the oldest fighting bull farms in Spain and the only one privileged to open the royal festivities. ‘El Raso de Portillo’ is a faithful and vivid reflection of the oldest bullfighting tradition in Castilla y León.»
The jury highlighted «the characteristic strength and bravery of its livestock, which shines every year in renowned bullrings, with a notable presence in France.»
Additionally, it is recognized for «its contribution to the promotion of bullfighting culture, especially the knowledge of livestock in its natural environment, and the interest in bullfighting through initiatives such as its annual bullfighting competition for young promising bullfighters and its activity programs for fan associations, bullfighting clubs, and individuals, both Spanish and foreign.»
Lastly, its significant role in preserving the protected area of Salgüeros de Aldeamayor, composed of wetlands and pine forests around the Duero and Cega rivers, has been acknowledged. Thanks to this livestock farm, the Valladolid towns of Boecillo, Aldeamayor de San Martín, and La Pedraja de Portillo, within whose territories ‘El Raso de Portillo’ estate extends, are recognized throughout Spain.
The jury, appointed by the Department of Culture, Tourism, and Sports, included Pedro Gutiérrez Moya, ‘El Niño de la Capea,’ a bullfighter and livestock breeder who received the award in 2022; Marta Pérez López, a bullfighting surgeon, honored with this award in 2023; Laura Vicente Torréns, the mayor of Fuentes de Oñoro (Salamanca); Fernando Fernández Román, a bullfighting critic; Encarnación Martín López, a professor of Historical Sciences and Techniques at the University of León; and Jesús Ignacio Sanz, who served as secretary.
The Castilla y León Bullfighting Award aims to recognize the professional trajectory, merits, or activities of individuals, entities, or institutions that have contributed to the promotion of the cultural, tourist, or economic values of bullfighting in Castilla y León.
It was in 2022 when this bullfighting award was introduced as a new category of the Castilla y León Awards. Previously, from 2015, the Castilla y León Bullfighting Award was presented annually. The awardees since that year have been: Santiago Martín Sánchez, ‘El Viti,’ in 2015; Víctor Barrio, posthumously, in 2016; Montalvo Livestock from Salamanca in 2017; the Bull Runs of Cuéllar in 2018; the Bullfighting School of the Provincial Council of Salamanca in 2019; Andrés Mazariegos Vázquez, ‘Andres Vázquez,’ in 2020; the Bullfighting Competition of Ciudad Rodrigo in 2021; Pedro Gutiérrez Moya, ‘El Niño de la Capea,’ in 2022; and Marta Pérez López in 2023.
The Castilla y León Awards, held annually since 1984, aim to recognize the work of individuals, groups, or entities that contribute to the exaltation of the values of the Castilian and Leonese Community or, when carried out by Castilian and Leonese individuals, within or outside the territorial scope of the Community, represent a significant contribution to universal knowledge. In addition to the bullfighting category, these awards have six other modalities: Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation, Literature, Arts, Human and Social Values, Social Sciences and Humanities, and Sports.