The Gentleman’s Guide to Cockfighting

While outlawed in most of the U.S., for many in Puerto Rico cockfighting remains a treasured pastime, a high-stakes gamble, and the ultimate measure of manhood.

In Naranjito, Puerto Rico, cockfighting is legal, but for many people, it is much more than just a sport. It is a cultural accent that defines the personality of those who practice it. For men like Edgardo Santiago, who has raised roosters for the better part of four decades, success in the ring can mean thousands of dollars in prize money, and invaluable payoffs in terms of pride.