article_snippet: Mexican cockfighting promoters on Friday kicked off an event billed as the largest exhibition of the bloodsport the country has ever seen.
article_snippet: The annual Texcoco Horse Fair, which takes places on the eastern fringes of Mexico City, will see 16 nightly bouts of cockfighting over the space of a month
article_snippet: Cockfighting is deeply embedded in Mexico's rural culture', Texcoco tourism spokeswoman Rosalinda Benitez told MailOnline on the opening night of the month-long bloodsport bonanza. '
article_snippet: This year they want to make clear how much the people love to come and watch quality cockfights'.
article_snippet: A cock struts proudly in the ring, though A cock will only take one blow from a razor blade to strike him down .
article_snippet: Indeed the cockfighting arenas, known as palenques, are often the social hubs of many Mexican towns. '
article_snippet: Cockfighting is a family business', said Gregory Castillo, a gamecock trainer from Ranchito Gaby, one of the eight gamecock-producing ranches competing on the fair's opening night. '
article_snippet: Spatters of blood cover the floor of the cockfighting ring, surrounded by fans enjoying drinks and snacks .
article_snippet: The cocks often scrap furiously on the floor of the arena, which is covered in blood from previous fights . '
article_snippet: The group focuses particularly on bullfights, cockfighting and illegal dogfights which occur periodically around the capital.
article_snippet: All the shows will follow directly on from 16 cockfights.
article_snippet: International supermarket chain WalMart was in trouble late last year as shoppers complained that a store in Veracruz state hosted a cockfight in order to promote a soft drinks company.
highlights_snippet: Sixteen cockfighting bouts held every night for a month in 'proud tradition'
  Cocks owned by trainers from across Mexico engage in to-the-death fights .
  