After killing two riders, Malacrianza morphed into a Costa Rican legend and the bull's story reinvigorated the dwindling popularity of Costa Rican rodeo.
On Sept. 7, cowboys from across the Americas and as far away as New Zealand will flock to Costa Rica's National Stadium for the country's first-ever American-style rodeo event. Competitors will test their skills in calf roping and cattle herding and try their luck riding on the backs of Costa Rica's most fearsome bulls.
To celebrate this year's 190th anniversary of the annexation of the Partido de Nicoya, bilingual community newspaper La Voz de Guanacaste (The Voice of Guanacaste) has put together a musical video tribute based on Guadalupe Urbina's song, "Vengo de una Tierra" ("I Come from a Land").
With it's publication in the official government newspaper La Gaceta, Costa Rica's dog-fighting ban went into effect last week. The new law clarifies dog fighting as a criminal offense and imposes stricter penalties on those caught organizing fighting rings.