Page 2, July 1964
©Grit & Steel Magazine
http://www.pitmaster.com

Along about this time came the great depression. Now some of you young folk don't remember it, but from about 1930 to 1936, or a little longer, things were really tough. Red was so situated financially that he was not too much affected by this, but a real top notch cocker and breeder he knew was on the verge of losing his ranch. Well, old Red moved up in the East, to one and one half inch gaff territory. He send back to the nearly pauperized breeder for cocks to fight on a basis that he paid twenty-five dollars each for each winning cock or stag, and nothing for the losers. Since this breeder was hard pressed for money and knew Red could take care of chickens well, for had taught Red himself, he started sending up his best fowl. Now Red had never even had 50% win season in over 10 years of fighting, but low and behold, his winning percentage, with these long heel fowl in short heel country jumped to around 90%. In the next 3 years, and mind you depression years at that, Red won enough to build him a big brick home on sixteen beautiful acres in the suburbs of a large city. He won eighteen consecutive mains against the top cockers that section. He won first at Haverhill, twice or three times at Boxwood, etc. Red went back to Texas and got the entire yard of fowl that had produced the winners and paid the rancher-breeder a big price for them.

As long as this yard lived, Red continued to be a real power in his section of the country. Well, old Red finally ran out of these particular fowl. He had several families of their crosses and did pretty good for a few more years. Red bought other fowl from almost all the top men in the country. Oddly enough, he could never get back on top and finally gave it up. He was not satisfied to be a 50 percenter. The taste of glory had been too sweet.

Now I can go on and on and tell you of man after man that was a top notch cock fighter for a few years, and then either dropped back into the pack or quit. Do you think Red and these others forgot how to condition cocks? Your common sense will answer this. No, they just ran out of first class cocks. Remember, no feeder on earth can take run-of-the-mill cocks and by perfect care, feeding, and handling, win with them in first class competition. It just can't be done.

So you, my young friends, don't spend too much money and time on the conditioning bit. It has its place in the scheme of cockfighting, but you should always put first things first. Good, smart, tough hard hitting, deadly cutting cocks are still, and always will be, the main ingredient in winning a cock fight.

Good cocks make good feeders, good heelers, and good handlers. Without them the best man in the game better stay in the brush, and be careful even there.

Next month, I will try to tell you how you can recognize a good cock when you see him. It isn't easy you can be sure.