There’s nothing more powerful than when a wish comes true – and Thoroughbred racehorse Cody’s Wish is a living embodiment of dreams fulfilled. Not only has this bay stallion by Curlin proven himself as a consistent winner on the track, but also a symbol of hope for a special young man.
Cody’s Wish was foaled in 2018. That same year he met Cody Dorman, a Kentucky boy living with a genetic disorder. As part of his wish experience, Cody met a racehorse when a trip to Gainsborough Farm was arranged for him by Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. During that visit he connected with a weanling that walked right up to Cody and put his head in his lap. Inspired by the tear-jerking sights that day, the owners named the colt Cody’s Wish.
The 2022 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile was an especially emotional day for the Dorman family, where the horse’s achievements and Cody’s inspiring story gained national attention. Following his win, Cody’s Wish received the 2022 Secretariat Vox Populi Award, which recognizes racehorses whose stories and achievements resound with the public. Cody's Wish repeated these feats in 2023, closing a triumphant career with another Dirt Mile win and becoming the first horse to be awarded the Vox Populi Award two years in a row.
A $10,000 donation is being made to Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. When a wish is granted, a child replaces fear with confidence, sadness with joy, and anxiety with hope!