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- The pitting of gamecocks against one another
- to make sport for onlookers and gamblers. In
- most countries it is illegal because of its
- cruelty. Fighting cocks have steel spurs
- attached to their legs. They are between one
- and two years old when matched. The sport was
- very popular in feudal England. A royal
- cockpit was built in Whitehall by Henry VIII,
- and royal patronage continued in the next
- century. During the Cromwellian period it was
- banned, but at the Restoration it was revived
- until it was banned in 1849. Cockfighting is
- still legal in some countries and continues
- secretly in others. The sport was extremely
- popular in feudal Europe. Cockfighting
- continues surreptitiously in advanced
- countries and is still legal in many others.
- Fighting cocks are 1-2 years old when
- matched, and steel spurs are attached to
- their legs.
-