A Record-Breaking, High-Speed Run
On July 8, 2026, the San Fermín festival in Pamplona, Spain, entered its second day. The bulls from the famed and dangerous Cebada Gago ranch demonstrated astonishing speed and discipline in the day’s bull run. They completed the entire course, from the Santo Domingo slope to the bullring, in just 2 minutes and 26 seconds, setting the fastest time of the festival to date. Throughout the run, the herd maintained a tight formation, charging at high speed through Pamplona’s cobblestone streets and arriving at the bullring almost simultaneously.
First Goring of the Festival Reported
According to a preliminary report from Navarra’s emergency services after the event, the day’s run resulted in three people injured and requiring medical attention. The most notable was the first goring of this year’s festival. A 23-year-old man was gored in the arm; fortunately, the injury was not serious, and he has been taken to Navarra University Hospital for treatment. The other two individuals sustained minor injuries from falls during the run. Meanwhile, all those injured in the previous day’s run have now been discharged from the hospital.
An Uncharacteristically Stable Performance
Bulls from the Cebada Gago ranch have a long-standing reputation for being unpredictable and highly dangerous. During last year’s event, one bull from the ranch, named ‘Caminante,’ broke away from the pack, causing the run to last 5 minutes and 22 seconds and creating a chaotic scene. In contrast, this year’s herd was exceptionally stable. They stayed together, and there were no chaotic moments requiring extra guidance, as they followed the lead steers into the bullring. Although some runners fell in front of the herd, no serious trampling or collisions occurred.
A Mix of Speed and Danger
The second day’s bull run was overall smoother and faster than the first, once again highlighting the signature trait of the Cebada Gago bulls: incredible speed. Although this year’s herd was well-controlled and stable, the occurrence of the first goring serves as a stark warning for the rest of the San Fermín festival. It reminds all participants that in the days to come, the speed and excitement of the bull run will continue to be accompanied by unpredictable challenges and danger.
