- Title: THAILAND: BULL FIGHTING IS SOUTHERN SPORT
- Date: 3rd June 1965
- Summary: 1. GV CROWD. 0.06 2. SV BETTING IN PROGRESS. 0.10 3. CU PUNTERS TOUGH HANDS 0.13 4. SV MONEY CHANGES HANDS 0.16 5. SV MAN HITS DRUM TO HERALD BULLS. 0.22 6. GV BULL LED IN 0.25 7. SV DITTO 0.31 8. GV BULLS PULLED TOGETHER AND START TO FIGHT. 0.46 9. GV FIGHT IN PROGRESS. 0.51 10. CU DITTO (2 SHOTS) 1.01 11. SV END OF FIGHT WINNER CHASES OFF LOSER. 1.07 12. GV CROWD. 1.11 Initials JRG/S/RM/ES JRG/S/RM/JM SPORT: BULL FIGHTING Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 18th June 1965 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SONGKHLA, THAILAND
- Country: Thailand
- Reuters ID: LVAALSCT70YUEQKEEGKWBCCSAGQV
- Story Text: THE PEOPLE OF THAILAND, LIKE MOST ASIANS, ARE FERVENT GAMBLERS. IN THE SOUTHERN PROVINCES OF THE COUNTRY, HOWEVER, THERE ARE NO HORSES TO RACE AND SLOT MACHINES ARE UNKNOWN. IN THIS AREA THE MEDIUM FOR THAI GAMBLERS ARE TWO PRIMITIVE BLOOD SPORTS -- COCKFIGHTING AND BULLFIGHTING.
THE THAIS, A FRIENDLY, PEACEFUL RACE, SPURN BLOODSHED AND MOSTLY SO DO THEIR FIGHTING BULLS, ALTHOUGH OCCASIONALLY THEY FIGHT TO THE DEATH.
IN ONE RECENT BULLFIGHTING CARNIVAL AT THE CITY OF HADDYAI, IN SONGKHLA PROVINCE, NEAR THE MALAYAN BORDER, THE WORST INJURY SUFFERED BY THE BULLS WAS AN OCCASIONAL GASH AROUND THE HEAD -- AND ALMOST CERTAINLY A FEW HEADACHES.
THE BULLS ARE LEAD TOGETHER AND INSTINCT DOES THE REST. THEY LOCK HORNS AND PUSH EACH OTHER AROUND THE RING. THE FIRST ANIMAL TO BREAK OFF THE ENGAGEMENT IS THE LOSER.
IN THE MAKESHIFT GRANDSTAND BEFORE THE FIGHT, THE GAMBLING IS CARRIED ON AT A FURIOUS PACE. A TOUCH OF HANDS IS ENOUGH TO CLINCH A WAGER: A BUNDLE OF NOTES EXCHANGED AFTERWARDS TELLS THE STORY OF THE FORTUNES OF THE FIGHT.
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