Rafael Molina Sánchez (November 27, 1841 – August 1, 1900), called ''Lagartijo'' (lizard), was a Spanish bullfighter.
Early life
Rafael Molina was born in
Córdoba on November 27, 1841.
Career
On September 29, 1865, ''Lagartijo'' became a full bullfighter (he took the ''alternativa'') at
Úbeda
Úbeda () is a municipalities in Spain, municipality of Spain located in the Province of Jaén (Spain), province of Jaén, Andalusia. The town lies on the southern ridge of the so-called Loma de Úbeda, a Table (landform), table sandwiched in bet ...
. His sponsor (''padrino'') was
Antonio Carmona y Luque, called ''
El Gordito''; ''Lagartijo'' killed ''
Carabuco'', a bull from the ranch (''ganaderÃa'') owned by the Marchioness of Ontiveros.
During his career he was seriously gored seven times.
In 1887, ''Lagartijo'' presented his sword at the ''alternativa'' of
Rafael Guerra Bejarano, marking Guerra's elevation from an apprentice to a professional matador. A Spanish hand fan commemorating the occasion survives in the collection of the
Staten Island Historical Society at
Historic Richmond Town
Historic Richmond Town is a town and farm museum complex in the neighborhood of Richmondtown, Staten Island, Richmondtown, Staten Island, in New York City. It is located near the geographical center of the island, at the junction of Richmond Ro ...
in New York.
''Lagartijo'' retired from bullfighting in 1893.
Death
Rafael Molina died on August 1, 1900, in Córdoba.
Notes
External links
*
*https://web.archive.org/web/20060422101839/http://www.legadoandalusi.com/legado/contenido/rutas/personajes/8549.htm
Depiction of "Lagartijo" on a fan in the Staten Island Historical Society Online Collections Database
1841 births
1900 deaths
Sportspeople from Córdoba, Spain
Spanish bullfighters
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