Texas Tech’s Midnight Matador to be Honored Saturday

The outgoing mascot for Texas Tech will be honored Saturday at the Texas Tech- Texas football game. Midnight Matador has been the horse for the Masked Rider since 2002. Midnight Matador will be officially honored between the first and second quarters of the game.

A leg injury prevented Midnight Matador from leading the Red Raiders out onto the field for the West Virginia game a few weeks ago. The horse will make limited appearances for the rest of the athletic year as a new horse is found for the Masked Rider.

Texas Tech University estimates that Midnight Matador traveled more than 100,000 miles to more than 1,500 university and community appearances during its tenure. The highlight of the horse's career was a return trip to the Gator Bowl in 2007, where the tradition of the Masked Rider began in 1954.