Monument in Progress

THE BOND

Two Hearts, One Spirit

Cody Dorman and Cody’s Wish

Cody Dorman had already beaten the odds when he was introduced to a 5-month-old foal at Gainsborough Farm in 2018. Born with Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome, he underwent more than 40 operations, including two open-heart surgeries before he was 3. Cody made an instant connection with the foal, the interaction so impactful that Godolphin named him after Cody and Make-A-Wish. When Cody was depressed during the pandemic, a visit to see “his” horse snapped him out of it. 

As Cody’s Wish started winning races, Cody traveled to racetracks around the country to watch him. Each time they met – in the paddock, on the backstretch, in the winner’s circle – the bond between the strapping racehorse and 70-pound boy was evident. Cody finally had the friend he so desperately wanted.

Cody saw Cody’s Wish win the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland in 2022. He traveled to Santa Anita with his parents, Kelly and Leslie, and sister, Kylie, for the 2023 Dirt Mile, watching from the winner’s circle as Cody’s Wish capped his career with a thrilling victory. The following day, November 5, 2023, Cody Dorman finished his race. While his death caused immeasurable sadness, those close to him were comforted by the fact that he was there for his horse right to the end. 

The story of Cody and Cody’s Wish is one of resilience, triumph and love, a tale of an inexplicable, yet undeniable connection between a courageous boy and the champion racehorse he considered his best friend.

Copy for the Story Wall 

by Paul Halloran, Author of the Upcoming Book: Cody: A Boy, a Horse and a Wish for Life (Coming Soon!)