NEW SERIES: A Racehorse’s Journey

Featuring Fearless Cowgirl and Recalculating – Two Thoroughbreds on their journey to becoming professional racehorses

Have you wanted to start following horse racing but don't know where to start? The time is now! Our digital media intern, Cady Coulardot is taking Amplify followers behind the scenes into her family’s racing operation to experience the world of racing through a unique educational lens. Come along with us as she documents the journey of two Thoroughbred racehorses, owned by Coulardot Racing and trained by Karyn Wittek, on their journey to becoming professional racehorses.

Let’s get things started by introducing you to Coulardot Racing, a small, family-owned Thoroughbred operation co-founded in 2017 by Neal and Monica Coulardot. If you haven’t already met their daughter/operations manager/our very own Cady Coulardot, check out this blog introducing her to our team! Together, the Coulardot family strives to ensure the safety and welfare of their horses comes first. 

Originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana, the Coulardot's did not grow up in racing, and it wasn't until 2017 that they invested in their first racehorse, Maria Rose. The fiery chestnut filly stole their hearts with her spirit and never-ending will to win. They partnered with Kevin and Chris McKay to form CM Thoroughbreds, and owned three horses together. In 2021, they decided to dissolve the partnership due to their racing string retiring. Many horsemen refer to the horses in their barn as a “string.” In 2021, the CM Thoroughbreds retired their three horses.

However, in 2023, Monica Coulardot spearheaded the formation of Coulardot Racing to get the family back into racing. They currently race primarily in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and Arkansas. Their horses receive the best care from their trusted trainer, Karyn Wittek. Karyn is stabled year-round at Turfway Park and High Pointe Training Stable. By using two separate facilities like this, their horses can get breaks from being stabled at the track and receive ample turnout time in pastures. During these breaks, the horses are turned out into pastures and do not train to be a racehorse. They get a well-deserved vacation like a kid does from school. Essentially, this is like a winter break for their horses. 

Fearless Cowgirl

Now, let’s introduce you to the horses: Fearless Cowgirl and Recalculating! Fearless Cowgirl is a bay 2-year-old filly by Dominus out of Mariastheboss (Quick note: when discussing horse pedigrees, you say “by” to refer to their sire/father, and “out of” when referring to their dam/mother), and she is owned by Coulardot Racing in partnership with trainer Karyn Wittek. Fearless Cowgirl fought the odds as a foal, overcoming a stomach problem that almost took her life. Stomach issues can be detrimental for horses, as they do not have the ability to throw up. She’s now strong and healthy, and the powerful namesake of a young mother named Savannah Duckworth, who tragically passed away in a car accident in 2022. Savannah worked for Karyn, who taught her how to gallop and breeze racehorses. She was viewed by those close to her as fearless, and aspired to become a professional jockey. 

Recalculating

Recalculating is by Calculator, out of Cash Me Ousside. He is from Calculator’s first crop – meaning the first foals he sired – and is an Indiana-bred and sired. This enables him to run in races designated only for horses bred and born in Indiana, and sired by a stallion standing at stud in Indiana. 

On Saturday, March 30th, Fearless Cowgirl and Recalculating moved from High Pointe Farm and Training Center in La Grange to Turfway Park to spend their summer training on the tapeta track. Tapeta is an all-weather surface composed of silica sand, wax, and fibers. By the fall, the horses will be making their racing debuts at Horseshoe Indianapolis, which is located in Shelbyville, Indiana. Because both horses are Indiana-breds, this is the track where they will primarily race during their careers, though we are still months away from that adventure. Until then, we have front-row seats to see their progression into becoming professional racehorses. The main goal for the coming months is to get them physically conditioned for racing, and for them to receive their gate card. They will likely have their first timed workouts, called breezes, this spring and summer. Under the careful guidance of trainer Karyn, Coulardot Racing is in no rush to get them to the races, as they want their horses well prepared by ensuring a constant, safe, and healthy training schedule.

Stay tuned for regular updates regarding Amplify’s racehorse ambassadors! To receive workout updates, race entries and results, you can add Fearless Cowgirl and Recalculating to a virtual stable on the equibase website!