Meet New Amplify Team Member Cady Coulardot!
My name is Cady Coulardot, and I am honored to be a part of Amplify Horse Racing as their new Digital Media Intern! I am originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana, but I moved around a lot as a kid. It wasn’t until my 3rd-grade teacher took me to Turfway Park to watch her friend's racehorse run that I was exposed to Thoroughbred horse racing. I vividly remember their horse winning, and I was so in awe of the strength and beauty of the Thoroughbred. Fast-forward to 2017, when my family invested in their first racehorse with close family friends. The partnership was called CM Thoroughbreds, which was short for Coulardot-McKay Thoroughbreds. She was a fiery chestnut filly named Maria Rose, bred and trained by Karyn Wittek. I fell in love with Maria, and Karyn took me under her wing and taught me everything about running horses.
We traveled all over the local racing circuit, from Mountaineer racetrack in West Virginia, to Arlington Park in Illinois. This experience showed me the intricate levels of care that a racehorse receives. Having a firm understanding of the routines of a racing barn has provided a crucial foundation for my career. During these years of owning horses, I also took my camera to photograph morning workouts and races. I have always been enamored by photography, and the ability to freeze time in a photograph blew my mind! I never realized how crucial photography was to horse racing. This came to light in 2020, when the world shut down because of COVID-19, and my family could not see how the yearlings or older horses we owned were progressing. Therefore, having just a photo or video sent to us from trainers was the only connection we had with our horses.
One of the most humbling experiences was when our horses returned from Oaklawn Park in Arkansas to be stabled at Churchill Downs in Kentucky. We hadn’t seen them in 6 months, and our only way to visit was through the chain link fence on Longfield Avenue along the backside stable area of the racetrack. However, our reunion was so much sweeter when we could finally hold and touch them again. During all these experiences, I started my personal TikTok page to document life as a young person in racing. I was able to utilize my experiences and educate the world on Thoroughbred racing. TikTok truly made me realize the power of social media and the effects of going “viral.”
Most of my videos were of my family’s racehorses and our journey to the races. Many viewers had no idea that there were ways for a young person to own a racehorse. For example, the ability to own micro shares with MyRacehorse or leasing a racehorse through Nexus Racing Club. The main focus of my videos was to update and positively educate the public. Many people were fans of our yearling, Kick Some Tale, for whom I had documented our journey from sales to becoming a racehorse. People called him “Mini-Biscuit,” which paid homage to his color and quirks. My favorite memory with TikTok was when I live streamed Kick Some Tale’s first race at Churchill Downs. On my livestream, people from all around the world were gathered to watch my little horse’s debut. He may have finished last and been beaten by 70 lengths, but the excitement of the racing and having people cheer him on was amazing.
In 2020, I started working as the social media manager for Nexus Racing Club, an innovative initiative for young people to experience racehorse ownership. I found it was so much fun to reach an audience that matched my age demographic. With Nexus, we had a horse named Diabolic who was competing in a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” race. We did not win; however, it was a phenomenal experience having a horse of that caliber running in the Nexus Racing Club silks. Nexus taught me that there are a variety of young people who want to venture into racing. Unfortunately, a lot of them have no idea how to start. Nexus was a doorway to ownership and racing connections.
In 2021, I started working for Coady Photography as a track photographer. I was blessed to be able to photograph the Kentucky Derby three times and the Breeders’ Cup once with the Coady team. One of my favorite aspects of working at Coady was being up close and personal with all the horses. I loved making art with my photos and trying new things. Coady Photo pushed me to get outside of my comfort zone, and for that I am forever grateful. Many of my favorite photos were taken at my time with Coady Photography.
In 2023, I graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor of Science in equine business administration and a marketing minor. U of L’s Equine Industry Program is an excellent gateway for college students seeking careers in racing at a higher level. U of L’s curriculum consists of real-life situations and pushes you to explore new careers in racing. I am very thankful for my time at U of L and the tools it gave me to succeed financially and professionally.
Our original partnership, CM Thoroughbreds dissolved once our horses retired. In 2023, my family decided to start our own racing team, which comprised my parents and I. Coulardot Racing has brought my family and I closer in ways I would have never imagined. My role is Operations Manager for the team. I manage our social media channels, check entries for potential claims, and ensure communication between our trainer and my family.. I also check in on current horses to ensure safe aftercare situations for our former horses. My favorite part of this job is researching possible claims for the team. Claiming horses can be challenging, however, I love finding new horses and seeing if they are a good fit for our stable. Watching replays and seeing when the horses may run back to their best form is also rewarding. We have only bought one yearling from the sales, which was Kick Some Tale. Our trainer Karyn has claimed or bred all our other horses. Our mission statement is “The safety and welfare of our horses come first.” We are passionate about aftercare and ensuring second careers for our horses. So far, Maria Rose and MariatheBoss have both competed at the Kentucky Horse Park in the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover. Our recent retiree, Pretty Heart, will also compete in 2024 RRP Makeover. Aftercare is not an afterthought; through Karyn's guidance, she takes care of every horse that goes through her training program.
During my time at the racetrack, I quickly realized young people's hunger for being involved in racing. Frankly, it is contagious – the consistent drive to learn as much as possible and experience all facets of the industry. I will always say you can know many people on the front and backside of a racetrack, but it only takes one person to change your world and career path. Starting out, I wanted to be a bloodstock agent or a track photographer. At this point in my career, I can combine all of those aspirations both professionally and recreationally. I am able to be involved professionally as a photographer and recreationally as a bloodstock agent for my family. I am excited to be part of creating new opportunities for youth involvement in the industry through Amplify Horse Racing, and develop digital media tools and strategies to get younger people involved.