On Sept. 24, Thistledown will host the sixth running of the $75,000 Catlaunch Stakes, a 1-1/16-mile race on the dirt for Thoroughbreds 3-years-old and up for accredited Ohio foals. The contest is scheduled as the seventh race on the card with a 3:50 post time.
Without question, Catlaunch was a fan favorite at Ohio racetracks when he competed, and, as stated on the Old Friends website, he was “the pride of Ohio racing.”
In his career Catlaunch ran in 108 races, with 106 of them at three main Ohio racetracks: Beulah, Thistledown, and River Downs (now Belterra Park). In those 106 races in Ohio, he won 40 times, finished second 22 times, third 15 times, and earned $1,122,309. In addition, he was also a versatile horse, as he won at distances from six furlongs to 1-1/4 miles.
In his 11-year racing career, Catlaunch earned numerous season-ending Ohio Awards. He was a three-time Ohio Horse of the Year (2008, 2010, and 2011), five-time Ohio Champion Handicap Champion (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011), four-time Ohio Accredited Male Champion (2007, 2008, 2010, and 2011), and Champion Sprinter (2011).
Catlaunch was retired after his final race on Sept. 8. 2013, and arrived at Old Friends in January of 2014. He enjoyed more than four years of retirement at Old Friends before he was euthanized on May 4, 2018 due to chronic neurologic disease.
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