In 1992, Thunderbird accorded due recognition to his gamefowl breeding expertise and his superiority in training and conditioning fightingcocks by featuring him in the company’s first classic calendar, along with the legendary Boy Primalion, who gave us the Zamboanga Whites; the phenomenal Cito Alberto, who recently, reemerged to claim his second World Slasher Cup and the late great cocker, Speaker Ramon V. Mitra.
Today, Thunderbird enjoins all the Pinoy sabungero nationwide and around the world in honoring Richard Lee Bates for his invaluable contributions to Philippine cockfighting.
Richard passed away last November 10, but his legacy as a true-blooded cockfighter and gamefowl breeder will live forever.
