Beulah-tiful - By Steve Montemarano

re: Beulah-tiful - By Steve Montemarano

ptrckj — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 22:11:32 GMT

we used to call it Brutal Park.i remember Albert Palacios telling me when catlaunch was a 2yr. old that he might be one of the better horses in his barn.i've followed his career ever since.kudos to ivan and his team for doing a great job with catlaunch.it's nice when good things happen to good people.

re: Beulah-tiful - By Steve Montemarano

SeÃ±ora — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:32:25 GMT

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! This story about Ivan Vasquez and Catlaunch makes the backstretch come alive for me and, I suspect, many readers. Whenever I visit shedrows of unheralded race tracks, I hear human interest stories of those humans and horses who are exemplary in their efforts and their achievements. They are the unsung blue-collar trainers and horses who achieve the seemingly impossible given the limitations they endure. I enjoy reading about stakes winning trainers and million dollar horses but I long to read more about the less affluent because, without them, horse racing would disappear from many local tracks and because they are more like those of us who can only afford a two-dollar wager. We, too, like to root for our local champs and see our local horse people and horses featured in The Blood-Horse.

re: Beulah-tiful - By Steve Montemarano

looking up — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 21:03:46 GMT

Thanks for the great article. So many people are working hard to keep racing going here in Ohio.. It seems no matter how hard you work or how well you are doing, there is little recognition. Ivan has been working hard to keep his stable going. Catlaunch and the others are well taken care of. I think Ivan is very humble in giving the horse all the credit. It takes time, work and money to keep the horses going. With the purses so low who can make it? I just want to say congrats to Ivan and Catlaunch. I hope to see racing get better and better. Again well done.

re: Beulah-tiful - By Steve Montemarano

deb — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 14:53:35 GMT

what a great horse,trainer,story!! Keep going Catlaunch!

re: Beulah-tiful - By Steve Montemarano

MRO — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 03:50:35 GMT

I can't tell you how cool it was to stumble across this article tonight. I'm a CANTER Ohio volunteer & walk the barns at Beulah Park almost every Saturday morning. I have often thought the same thing about Barn 7 & its hidden gems. Ivan Vazquez, his assistant Antonio, and his superstar Catlaunch are just a few of the reasons the cold Saturday mornings bring joy, excitement, and satisfaction. I always stop at Catlaunch's stall (after saying good morning to his people) to check in on him, feed him a peppermint (when I remember to bring them), and rub his face. I marvel at what he has been able to accomplish & how fantastic he looks at age 11. I certainly hope Ohio racing/Beulah Park experience a resurgence. There are a lot of great people, deserving horses, and racing fans (like me) in Ohio.

re: Beulah-tiful - By Steve Montemarano

iceknight — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:56:24 GMT

Nice article, thanks for covering Beulah. One thing though, you mention that the trainer and the horse are defying the odds. The horse is a heavy favorite on many many races it runs, so they are definitely not defying the odds.. haha

re: Beulah-tiful - By Steve Montemarano

Draynay — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:50:59 GMT

Beulah rocks ! Ohio racing is alive and well.... until the casinos open that is.

re: Beulah-tiful - By Steve Montemarano

Anne — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:59:35 GMT

An enjoyable read! Thank you.