Annual Texcoco Horse Fair takes places on eastern fringes of Mexico City.
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.
Bouts can run for maximum of 15 minutes, though most are over within two.
Razorblades on left leg used to strike then birds 'finish job' with the beak.
Injured birds get only 15 second recovery period before fight recommences.
Cockfighting is banned in all 50 US states, Europe and parts of Mexico.
Leader of animal rights organisation has branded it a 'disgusting practice'
Texcoco horse auctions and fairground also help to draw  600,000 visitors.

Write an article based on these highlights.
Mexican cockfighting promoters on Friday kicked off an event billed as the largest exhibition of the bloodsport the country has ever seen. 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 – all of which end in the death of one of the animals. Trainers from all over the country compete not only for the title of best trainer, but also to keep alive what they claim is a proud Mexican tradition despite demands to ban the 'disgusting' sport. Scroll down for video. Injured birds are given only 15 seconds to recover, even if they are incapable of fighting back, in the brutal cockfights staged nightly during the month-long Texcoco Horse Fair. Razorblades are attached to the birds' left leg to make the fights 'more interesting' for gamblers and trainers. Trainers often spit on a rooster's head in a common technique used to anger the bird before it fights. Trainers from all over the country compete not only for the title of best trainer, but also to keep alive what they claim is a proud Mexican tradition - even though the 'sport' has been met with furious protests. '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. 'We want to showcase the proud tradition to our visitors'. The event, which includes fairground attractions and one of Mexico's biggest horse auctions, expects to receive more than 600,000 visitors over the month. 'Banning these events will never be accepted by the public', said Jaime Rodriguez, a Texcoco resident who looks forward to the annual fair every year. 'This year they want to make clear how much the people love to come and watch quality cockfights'. While cockfighting is banned in all 50 US states and Europe (it was banned in England in 1835), it nevertheless draws big crowds in Mexico, where fans come to gamble on the fights and drink until the early hours of the morning. Male birds are vicious and often emerge from the scuffles with their beaks filled with other's feathers. 'We train our animals to attack with their legs and feet first, and use the beak to finish the job later' The dominant bird at this stage of the fight has ripped away some feathers from his stricken opponent. Starting on the edge of the arena, the gamecocks are shown to one another, producing aggressive crowing, before being placed in their respective corners and let loose to attack one another. A cock struts proudly in the ring, though it will only take one blow from a razor blade to strike him down. The gamecocks are displayed to the gamblers by being paraded around the circular arena before the fights. Cockfighting is also banned within the limits of Mexico City, four cities in the state of Veracruz and Coahuila state on the Texas border, but the bloodsport is nevertheless extremely popular in more rural areas of the country. Indeed the cockfighting arenas, known as palenques, are often the social hubs of many Mexican towns. '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. 'We get a good reception wherever we perform and people always come out to witness the spectacle. It always produces a good party atmosphere'. Gregory had already seen two of his prize gamecocks die against superior opponents that evening, and was engaged in strapping the curved razorblade of Mexican cockfighting regulation onto the left leg of his third bird. 'The razorblades make for more interesting fights', he told the MailOnline as he spat on the rooster's head, a common technique to anger the bird before it enters the battle. 'We train our animals to attack with their legs and feet first, and use the beak to finish the job later'. The cuurved weapons attached to the birds' legs must be changed every five minutes in order to ensure they are not left blunted by the sand of the arena. Spatters of blood cover the floor of the cockfighting ring, surrounded by fans enjoying drinks and snacks. The cocks often scrap furiously on the floor of the arena, which is covered in blood from previous fights. 'Banning these events will never be accepted by the public', according to Jaime Rodriguez, a Texcoco resident who looks forward to the annual fair every year. The cockfighting areana, known as a palenque, in Texcoco has a capacity of more than 3,000 people, and few seats were left unsold as the public clamoured to see the opening event of the month-long celebration. The weapons attached to the birds' legs must be changed every five minutes in order to ensure they are not left blunted by the sand of the arena. 'It's a disgusting practice and there's no reason that it should continue simply because it's seen as tradition', said Leonora Esquivel, a leader of the AnimaNaturalis animal rights organisation, in a telephone interview with the MailOnline. Leonora's organisation, which works closely with Mexico's  Ecologist Green Party, is currently petitioning the government to put an end to animal cruelty in the country. The group focuses particularly on bullfights, cockfighting and illegal dogfights which occur periodically around the capital. Each cockfight runs for a maximum of 15 minutes, though most are over within two. Starting on the edge of the arena, the gamecocks are shown to one another, producing aggressive crowing, before being placed in their respective corners and let loose to attack one another. The flurry of feathers, beaks and claws is rapid and furious. The male birds are extremely vicious and often emerge from the scuffles with their beaks filled with other's feathers. Even if a bird is injured and not attempting to fight any longer, it is permitted only a 15 second recovery period before being placed within a yard of its opponent and forced to continue. The flurry of feathers, beaks and claws, when it comes, is rapid and furious and fights are always to-the-death. The sport revolves entirely around gambling, and betting odds are always 2:1 on the fight's outcome. 'Sometimes it comes down to luck. A weak bird might land a fatal blow with the razor and it's all over' A fight is declared over only when one of the birds is lying dead on the arena floor. The sport revolves entirely around gambling, and betting odds are always 2:1 on the fight's outcome. The gamecocks are displayed to the gamblers by being paraded around the circular arena, before being placed in front of a non-competitor mona ('monkey') gamecock to allow the gamblers to gauge their reactions. 'The more aggressively they peck, scratch and display their neck feathers at the mona, the more likely it is that they will be a good fighter', said Mauricio Alvarez, an observer in the crowd who had quadrupled his money over the previous two fights. 'But sometimes it comes completely down to luck. A weak bird might land a fatal blow with the razor and it's all over'. Bookmakers patrol the circular arena taking bets whenever a fight is not in progress. The high-rollers are always invited to seats within five rows of the arena and bookies' fees are negotiated depending on the size of the bets. The month-long Texcoco Horse Fair also features bullfighting and attracts more than 600,000 visitors a year. The facade of the main cathedral building in Texcoco (left). Mexico's national sport, charreria, is a kind of rodeo made up of different equestrian competitions and is also practiced at the fair (right) Cockfighting is banned within the limits of Mexico City, four cities in the state of Veracruz and Coahuila state on the Texas border, but is permitted in Texcoco, on the outskirts of the capital. For people further back in the stands, tennis balls with slits in them are thrown back and forth between gamblers and bookmakers: stuffed with stakes, winnings and losses. The palenque in Texcoco has a capacity of more than 3,000 people, and few seats were left unsold as the public clamoured to see the opening event of the month-long celebration. Following 16 cockfights, each ending with the bloodied loser unceremoniously dumped in a cement bucket, one of Mexico's most famous bands 'Los Angeles Azules' (The Blue Angels) took the animals' place to play to a packed house. The fair will culminate with three shows by Luis Miguel, one of Latin America's most famous artists and a Michael Bublé-esque crooner, from April 9 to 11. All the shows will follow directly on from the cockfights. In December of last year animal rights activists achieved a nationwide ban on the use of wild animals in circuses, imposing fines of up to £180,000 on organisations which cannot prove the domestic origins of any animals which are used in their performances. The Mexican government is currently engaged in the struggle to find homes for more than 2,000 repossessed tigers, lions, elephants and other such animals which have been freed as a result of the law. 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.
Årlig Texcoco Horse Fair äger rum i östra utkanten av Mexico City. Sexton tuppfäktningsbrudar som hålls varje kväll i en månad i "stolt tradition" Cocks som ägs av tränare från hela Mexiko ägnar sig åt in i döden slagsmål. Bouts kan köras i max 15 minuter, men de flesta är över inom två. Razorblades på vänster ben brukade slå sedan fåglar "sluta jobbet" med näbben. Skadade fåglar får bara 15 sekunders återhämtningsperiod innan strid återupptas. Cockfighting är förbjudet i alla 50 amerikanska delstater, Europa och delar av Mexiko. Ledare för djurrättsorganisationen har stämplat det som en "vidrig sedvänja" Texcoco hästauktioner och fairground bidrar också till att locka 600 000 besökare. Skriv en artikel baserad på dessa höjdpunkter.
The Annual Texcoco Horse Fair takes place on the eastern outskirts of Mexico City. Sixteen cockfighting girls held every night for a month in "proud tradition" Cocks owned by coaches from all over Mexico engage in death fighting. Bouts can run for a maximum of 15 minutes, but most are over within two. Razorblades on the left leg used to beat then birds "stop work" with their beak. Damaged birds receive only 15 seconds of recovery period before fighting resumes. Cockfighting is prohibited in all 50 U.S. states, Europe and parts of Mexico. Leaders of the animal rights organization have labeled it an "disgusting custom" Texcoco horse auctions and fairground also help attract 600,000 visitors. Write an article based on these highlights.
Mexikanska tuppfäktning promotors på fredag sparkade igång en händelse faktureras som den största utställningen av blodsport landet någonsin har sett. Den årliga Texcoco Horse Fair, som äger rum i de östra utkanterna av Mexico City, kommer att se 16 nattliga anfall av tuppfäktning under loppet av en månad – alla slutar i döden för ett av djuren. Tränare från hela landet tävlar inte bara om titeln bästa tränare, utan också om att hålla vid liv vad de hävdar är en stolt mexikansk tradition trots krav på att förbjuda den "vidriga" sporten. Scrolla ner för video. Skadade fåglar får bara 15 sekunder på sig att återhämta sig, även om de inte klarar av att slå tillbaka, i de brutala tuppfäktningar som arrangeras nattligt under den månadslånga Texcoco Horse Fair. Razorblades är fästa vid fåglarnas vänstra ben för att göra slagsmålen "mer intressanta" för spelare och tränare. Tränare spottar ofta på en tupphuvud i en vanlig teknik som används för att reta upp fågeln innan den slåss. Tränare från hela landet tävlar inte bara om titeln bästa tränare, utan också om att hålla vid liv vad de hävdar är en stolt mexikansk tradition - trots att "sporten" har mötts av rasande protester. "Kockfighting är djupt inbäddat i Mexikos landsbygdskultur", Texcoco turisttaleskvinna Rosalinda Benitez berättade MailOnline på premiärkvällen av månadens blodsport bonanza. "Vi vill visa upp den stolta traditionen för våra besökare". Evenemanget, som inkluderar nöjesfältsattraktioner och en av Mexikos största hästauktioner, räknar med att ta emot mer än 600 000 besökare under månaden. "Att förbjuda dessa händelser kommer aldrig att accepteras av allmänheten", sade Jaime Rodriguez, en Texcoco invånare som ser fram emot den årliga mässan varje år. "I år vill de klargöra hur mycket folket älskar att komma och titta på kvalitet tuppfäktningar". Medan tuppfäktning är förbjudet i alla 50 amerikanska delstater och Europa (det förbjöds i England 1835) drar det ändå stora folkmassor i Mexiko, där fans kommer för att spela på slagsmålen och dricka fram till tidigt på morgonen. Fåglar av hankön är elaka och kommer ofta fram ur skalven med näbben fylld med andras fjädrar. "Vi tränar våra djur att attackera med sina ben och fötter först, och använda näbben för att avsluta jobbet senare" Den dominerande fågeln i detta skede av kampen har slitit loss några fjädrar från sin drabbade motståndare. Med början på kanten av arenan, visas gamecocks för varandra, producerar aggressiv galning, innan de placeras i sina respektive hörn och släppa loss för att attackera varandra. En tupp sträfvar stolt i ringen, ehuru det blott kommer att ta ett enda slag från ett rakblad för att slå ned honom. Gamecocks visas för spelarna genom att paraderas runt den cirkulära arenan innan slagsmålen. Cockfighting är också förbjudet inom gränserna för Mexico City, fyra städer i delstaten Veracruz och delstaten Coahuila vid gränsen till Texas, men blodsporten är trots detta oerhört populär i mer lantliga områden i landet. Tuppfäktningsarenorna, som kallas palenques, är ofta de sociala knutpunkterna i många mexikanska städer. "Cockfighting är ett familjeföretag", sade Gregory Castillo, en gamecock-tränare från Ranchito Gaby, en av de åtta gamecock-producerande rancherna som tävlar på mässans premiärkväll. "Vi får ett bra mottagande var vi än uppträder och folk kommer alltid ut för att bevittna skådespelet. Det skapar alltid en bra feststämning. Gregory hade redan sett två av sina pris gamecocks dö mot överlägsna motståndare den kvällen, och var sysselsatt med att spänna den krökta rakblad mexikanska tuppfäktning reglering på vänster ben av sin tredje fågel. 'Radibladen gör för mer intressanta slagsmål', berättade han för MailOnline när han spottade på tuppens huvud, en vanlig teknik för att reta upp fågeln innan den går in i striden. "Vi tränar våra djur att attackera med sina ben och fötter först, och använda näbben för att avsluta jobbet senare". De omkrympta vapnen som sitter fast i fåglarnas ben måste bytas var femte minut för att de inte ska lämnas trubbiga av sanden på arenan. Blodstänk täcker golvet i tuppfäktningsringen, omgiven av fans som njuter av drinkar och snacks. Tupparna skrotar ofta rasande på golvet i arenan, som är täckt av blod från tidigare slagsmål. ”Att förbjuda dessa händelser kommer aldrig att accepteras av allmänheten”, enligt Jaime Rodriguez, en invånare i Texcoco som ser fram emot den årliga mässan varje år. Tuppfäktningen areana, känd som en palenque, i Texcoco har en kapacitet på mer än 3 000 personer, och få platser lämnades osålda som allmänheten uppmanade att se öppningshändelsen av den månadslånga firandet. Vapnen som fästs på fåglarnas ben måste bytas var femte minut för att se till att de inte lämnas trubbiga av sanden på arenan. "Det är en äcklig praxis och det finns ingen anledning att det ska fortsätta bara för att det ses som tradition", sade Leonora Esquivel, ledare för AnimaNaturalis djurrättsorganisation, i en telefonintervju med MailOnline. Leonoras organisation, som har ett nära samarbete med Mexikos miljölog miljöparti, vädjar för närvarande till regeringen att få slut på djurplågeriet i landet. Gruppen fokuserar särskilt på tjurfäktningar, tuppfäktning och olagliga hundfäktningar som förekommer periodvis runt huvudstaden. Varje tuppfäktning pågår i max 15 minuter, även om de flesta är över inom två. Med början på kanten av arenan, visas gamecocks för varandra, producerar aggressiv galning, innan de placeras i sina respektive hörn och släppa loss för att attackera varandra. Fjädrar, näbbar och klor är snabbt och rasande. Hanfåglarna är extremt elaka och kommer ofta fram ur skalven med näbben fylld med andras fjädrar. Även om en fågel skadas och inte försöker slåss längre, är det tillåtet endast en 15 sekunders återhämtningsperiod innan den placeras inom en gård av sin motståndare och tvingas fortsätta. Fjädrar, näbbar och klor är rasande och strider är alltid på väg att dö. Sporten kretsar helt kring spelande, och vadslagningsoddsen är alltid 2:1 på matchens utfall. Ibland handlar det om tur. En svag fågel kan få ett dödligt slag med rakkniven och det är över ett slagsmål förklaras över bara när en av fåglarna ligger död på arenans golv. Sporten kretsar helt kring spelande, och vadslagningsoddsen är alltid 2:1 på matchens utfall. Spelcocks visas för spelarna genom att paraderas runt den cirkulära arenan, innan de placeras framför en icke-konkurrent mona ('ana') gamecock för att låta spelarna mäta sina reaktioner. "Ju mer aggressivt de pickar, skrapar och visar upp sina nackfjädrar vid monan, desto troligare är det att de blir en bra kämpe", sade Mauricio Alvarez, en observatör i folkmassan som hade fyrdubblat sina pengar över de två tidigare slagsmålen. "Men ibland handlar det helt och hållet om tur. En svag fågel kan få ett dödligt slag med rakkniven och det är över. Bookmakers patrullerar den cirkulära arenan och satsar när en strid inte pågår. Högrollarna bjuds alltid in till platser inom fem rader från arenan och vadbolagens avgifter förhandlas fram beroende på satsningens storlek. Den månadslånga Texcoco Horse Fair har också tjurfäktning och lockar mer än 600 000 besökare per år. Fasaden till huvudkatedralbyggnaden i Texcoco (till vänster). Mexikos nationalsport, charreria, är en sorts rodeo som består av olika ridsporttävlingar och utövas även på mässan (höger) Cockfighting är förbjudet inom gränserna för Mexico City, fyra städer i delstaten Veracruz och Coahuila delstaten vid gränsen till Texas, men är tillåtet i Texcoco, i utkanten av huvudstaden. För människor längre tillbaka på läktaren kastas tennisbollar med slitsar i mellan spelare och bookmakers: fyllda med insatser, vinster och förluster. Palenque i Texcoco har en kapacitet på mer än 3 000 personer, och få platser lämnades osålda när allmänheten ropade på att se öppningshändelsen för det månadslånga firandet. Efter 16 tuppfäktningar, som slutade med att den blodiga förloraren oemoniskt dumpades i en cementhink, tog ett av Mexikos mest kända band "Los Angeles Azules" (The Blue Angels) djurens plats för att spela till ett fullsatt hus. Mässan kulminerar med tre shower av Luis Miguel, en av Latinamerikas mest kända artister och en Michael Bublé-esque crooner, från 9 till 11 april. Alla shower kommer att följa direkt från tuppfäktningarna. I december förra året införde djurrättsaktivister ett landsomfattande förbud mot användning av vilda djur på cirkusar, och ålade organisationer som inte kan bevisa ursprunget till något djur som används i deras föreställningar böter på upp till 180 000 pund. Den mexikanska regeringen är för närvarande engagerad i kampen för att hitta hem för mer än 2 000 återtagna tigrar, lejon, elefanter och andra sådana djur som har befriats till följd av lagen. Den internationella snabbköpskedjan WalMart var i trubbel i slutet av förra året när shoppare klagade över att en butik i Veracruz delstat var värd för en tuppfäktning för att främja ett läskedrycksföretag.
Mexican cockfighting promoters on Friday kicked off an event billed as the largest exhibition of blood sports the country has ever seen. The annual Texcoco Horse Fair, taking place on the eastern outskirts of Mexico City, will see 16 nightly attacks of cockfighting over the course of a month—all ending in death for one of the animals. Coaches from all over the country compete not only for the title of best coach, but also for keeping alive what they claim is a proud Mexican tradition despite demands to ban the "disgusting" sport. Scroll down for video. Damaged birds are given only 15 seconds to recover, although they are unable to fight back, in the brutal cockfights arranged nightly during the month-long Texcoco Horse Fair. Razorblades are attached to the left leg of the birds to make the fights "more interesting" for players and coaches. Coaches often spit on a cockhead in a common technique used to tease the bird before fighting. Coaches from all over the country compete not only for the title of best coach, but also for keeping alive what they claim is a proud Mexican tradition - despite the fact that the "sport" has been met with furious protests. "Kockfighting is deeply embedded in Mexico's rural culture", Texcoco tourist spokeswoman Rosalinda Benitez told MailOnline on opening night of the month's blood sport bonanza. "We want to showcase the proud tradition to our visitors". The event, which includes fairground attractions and one of Mexico's largest horse auctions, expects to receive more than 600,000 visitors during the month. "Banning these events will never be accepted by the public," said Jaime Rodriguez, a Texcoco resident looking forward to the annual fair each year. "This year they want to clarify how much people love to come and watch quality cockfights". While cockfighting is prohibited in all 50 U.S. states and Europe (it was banned in England in 1835), it still draws large crowds in Mexico, where fans come to play on the fights and drink until early in the morning. Male birds are mean and often emerge from the quakes with their beaks filled with the feathers of others. "We train our animals to attack with their legs and feet first, and use the beak to finish the job later" The dominant bird at this stage of the fight has ripped off some feathers from its affected opponent. Starting at the edge of the stadium, gamecocks are shown to each other, producing aggressive maniacs, before being placed in their respective corners and unleashing to attack each other. A rooster is proud in the ring, though it will only take a single blow from a razor blade to knock him down. The Gamecocks are shown to the players by being paraded around the circular arena before the fights. Cockfighting is also banned within the boundaries of Mexico City, four cities in the state of Veracruz and the state of Coahuila on the Texas border, but the blood sport is nevertheless extremely popular in more rural areas of the country. The cockfighting arenas, called Palenques, are often the social hubs of many Mexican cities. "Cockfighting is a family business," said Gregory Castillo, a gamecock coach from Ranchito Gaby, one of the eight gamecock-producing ranches competing on the fair's opening night. "We get a good reception wherever we perform and people always come out to witness the spectacle. It always creates a good party atmosphere. Gregory had already seen two of his prize gamecocks die against superior opponents that night, and was busy flexing the curved razor blade Mexican cockfighting regulation on the left leg of his third bird. 'Radi leaves make for more interesting fights', he told MailOnline when he spat on the cock's head, a common technique of exasperating the bird before entering the battle. "We train our animals to attack with their legs and feet first, and use the beak to finish the job later". The shrunk weapons trapped in the birds' legs must be replaced every five minutes to avoid being left blunt by the sand of the arena. Blood spatter covers the floor of the cockfighting ring, surrounded by fans enjoying drinks and snacks. The cocks often scrape furiously on the floor of the stadium, which is covered in blood from previous fights. ‘Banning these events will never be accepted by the public’, according to Jaime Rodriguez, a resident of Texcoco looking forward to the annual fair each year. The cockfighting areas, known as a palenque, in Texcoco have a capacity of more than 3,000 people, and few seats were left unsold as the public urged to see the opening event of the month-long celebration. The weapons attached to the birds' legs must be replaced every five minutes to ensure that they are not left blunt by the sand in the arena. "It's a disgusting practice and there's no reason it should continue just because it's seen as tradition," said Leonora Esquivel, leader of AnimaNaturali's animal rights organization, in a telephone interview with MailOnline. Leonora's organization, working closely with Mexico's environmentalist Green Party, is currently appealing to the government to end animal cruelty in the country. The group focuses particularly on bullfighting, cockfighting and illegal dogfighting occurring periodically around the capital. Each cockfight lasts for a maximum of 15 minutes, although most are over within two. Starting at the edge of the stadium, gamecocks are shown to each other, producing aggressive maniacs, before being placed in their respective corners and unleashing to attack each other. Feathers, beaks, and claws are fast and furious. Male birds are extremely mean and often emerge from the quakes with their beaks filled with the feathers of others. Although a bird is injured and does not attempt to fight anymore, it is allowed only a 15-second recovery period before being placed within a farm by its opponent and forced to continue. Feathers, beaks, and claws are furious and fighting is always dying. The sport revolves entirely around gambling, and betting odds are always 2:1 on the outcome of the game. Sometimes it's about luck. A weak bird can get a fatal blow with the razor and it's over a fight explained over only when one of the birds lies dead on the stadium floor. The sport revolves entirely around gambling, and betting odds are always 2:1 on the outcome of the game. Gamecocks are shown to players by being paraded around the circular stadium, before being placed in front of a non-competitor mona ('ana') gamecock to allow players to measure their reactions. "The more aggressive they peck, scrape and display their neck feathers at the monan, the more likely it is that they become a good fighter," said Mauricio Alvarez, an observer in the crowd who had quadrupled their money over the two previous fights. "But sometimes it's all about luck. A weak bird can get a fatal blow with the razor and it's over. Bookmakers patrol the circular arena and bet when a battle is not going on. The high rollers are always invited to places within five lines of the stadium and the fees of the betting companies are negotiated depending on the size of the bet. The month-long Texcoco Horse Fair also features bullfighting and attracts more than 600,000 visitors per year. The facade of the main cathedral building in Texcoco (left). Mexico's national sport, charreria, is a sort of rodeo composed of various equestrian competitions and also practiced at the fair (right) Cockfighting is prohibited within the boundaries of Mexico City, four cities in the state of Veracruz and Coahuila state at the Texas border, but is allowed in Texcoco, on the outskirts of the capital. For people further back in the stands, tennis balls are thrown with slits in between players and bookmakers: filled with stakes, wins and losses. Palenque in Texcoco has a capacity of more than 3,000 people, and few seats were left unsold when the public called to see the opening event for the month-long celebration. After 16 cockfights, which ended up the bloody loser unemonically dumped into a cement bucket, one of Mexico's most famous bands "Los Angeles Azules" (The Blue Angels) took the place of the animals to play to a crowded house. The fair culminates with three shows by Luis Miguel, one of Latin America's most famous artists and a Michael Bublé-esque crooner, from April 9 to 11. All shows will follow directly from the cockfights. Last December, animal rights activists introduced a nationwide ban on the use of wild animals in circuses, and imposed fines of up to £180,000 on organisations unable to prove the origin of any animal used in their performances. The Mexican government is currently engaged in the struggle to find homes for more than 2,000 withdrawn tigers, lions, elephants, and other such animals that have been liberated as a result of the law. The international supermarket chain WalMart was in trouble at the end of last year when shoppers complained that a store in Veracruz state hosted a cockfight to promote a soft drink company.