Fort Worth, Tex. (CBS/KTVT) -- For 12 years, longhorns have delighted tourists in the Fort Worth stockyards. But one of the most recognizable members of the daily cattle drive wasn't working this Labor Day. In fact, it's the first drive ever without him.
One of the best-known and longest working historic figures is making his last walk in the Fort Worth stock yards.
Sancho stands out from the herd with his long horns with a sort of Texas twist. Sancho is the last of the original longhorns brought here for the cattle drive 12-years ago. He's done this twice daily cattle drive more than 9,000 times. Trail boss for the herd Kristin Jaworski says, "We know everything about him. He knows our routine; he knows our brick streets in and out. He's very respectful of the horses and the drovers and the people who come to see him from all over the world."
Sancho has been seen and photographed by millions of tourists. But today, the long-serving bovine ambassador is not on the cattle drive. Sancho is leaving the stockyards and heading to greener pastures. Jaworski says, "We are retiring our longest employee of the herd. This morning he was loaded on the trailer to collect his 401K"
Sancho is headed for a ranch owned by the city councilman who started the herd 12-years ago, Jim Lane. For the first time in more a decade, Sancho is not in the stockyards. There is no cattle drive for Sancho today. There is a new herd and a new home. Jaworski says, "They were calling each other. He ran right over to meet him and they're still following him around this morning. He has been the most dependable, gentle steer since day one. So he deserves a good home."
Sancho is 19-years old, which is pretty old for a longhorn, even though some live up to 30-years. The folks at the stockyards are hoping Sancho has a long, happy retirement.