Ponce’s relationship with Madrid began in the autumn of 1988. The then young and inexperienced lad from Chiva had made his debut with picadors in Castellón earlier that season, and after becoming the breakout novillero of the year, he came to present himself at Las Ventas in October, as the season was drawing to a close. The impact could not have been more impressive. In fact, if it hadn’t been for the sword, he would have left the ring on the shoulders of the crowd. That Sunday, and the following week too, as they called him back after the stir he had caused on his first appearance.
That success earned him a place in the 1989 San Isidro Fair, where he fought in two of the three novilladas, before returning to Madrid as a full-fledged matador in the Autumn Fair of 1990 to confirm his alternativa. Once again, the sword deprived him of triumph on that 30th of September after he dominated the bull of the ceremony. On the 1st of June 1991, he cut his first ear in Madrid, from a bull of Los Bayones, but it wasn’t until the following year that he opened the first of his four *Puertas Grandes* in Madrid, which we now remember:
Ponce left Las Ventas on the shoulders of the crowd after cutting an ear from each of his bulls, from the Samuel Flores ranch, in a hugely significant event, broadcast live on Spanish TV, in which, dressed in pink and gold, he shared the ring with Manzanares Sr. and César Rincón.
After several near-misses at opening the *Puerta Grande*, Ponce finally achieved it for the second time during the Goyesca on the 2nd of May, 1997. Dressed in royal blue with black and gold trimmings, he cut an ear from a Juan Pedro Domecq bull and another from a Victorino Martín bull, in a mano-a-mano with César Rincón.
In a season that saw Ponce severely injured in both Seville and León, he reached the peak of his season in Madrid. He cut three ears on the 24th of May, the day Antón Cortés confirmed his alternativa, with Curro Vázquez leading the card. Wearing crimson and gold, Ponce cut two ears from a Javier Pérez Tabernero bull and one more from a José Luis Pereda remiendo.
Ponce’s (so far) last *Puerta Grande* in Madrid took place during the 2017 San Isidro Fair, when he confirmed the alternativa of Varea, with David Mora as the witness. On that day, dressed in claret and gold, the Valencian maestro cut an ear from each of his Garcigrande bulls.
In addition to these four *Puertas Grandes*, Ponce’s history in Madrid is filled with memorable performances, some of them truly historic, which were denied a double trophy, either due to his sword or presidential refusals. The most famous of these was on the 27th of May 1996 with the legendary “Lironcito” from Valdefresno. That same year, he masterfully handled a Samuel Flores bull on the day of the “rivalry” in quites with Joselito. Earlier, there had been a memorable faena with a bull from El Puerto near the end of the 1992 San Isidro, another with a Moura bull the following year, and his great afternoon in 1994, on the day of *El Madrileño’s* alternativa.
On the 28th of September, Ponce says goodbye to Madrid, a crucial venue in his career, and an arena that cannot be fully understood over the last 40 years without mentioning the feats of this Valencian colossus.
On June 28th, 2024 at the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, Enrique Ponce will say goodbye forever to the bullring in Madrid, a unique event for bullfighting lovers! Secure your tickets now for this unforgettable day, the last seats are still available!
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In the upcoming Autumn Fair, one of the key matadors in the history of Las Ventas over the last 40 years, Enrique Ponce, bids farewell to Madrid. Servitoro reviews the Valencian maestro’s relationship with Las Ventas and breaks down his triumphs, one by one, so you can give the “colossus of Chiva” the farewell he deserves.
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