The world’s best thoroughbreds compete in the Breeders’ Cup, but in the history of this race series, there has never been a heart-warming and miraculous story as Cody’s Wish and Cody Dorman.
This is the story of a racehorse and a young boy who has been in a wheelchair all his life. Cody Dorman was born with Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome (WHS), a rare genetic disorder that affects many parts of the body, resulting in delayed growth and development, intellectual disability, low muscle tone and seizures.
A special horse provided a perfect Hollywood moment in Keeneland, USA, at the Breeders’ Cup Meeting on 5 November. Godolphin’s winner in the Dirt Mile, Cody’s Wish, was a tear-jerker that captured the hearts of those watching in person and at home.
When he was born, doctors told the Dorman family that Cody would only live for two years. He has overcome long odds, about 40 to 50 medical procedures, and although he is now 16 years-old, Cody also suffers from depression.
In 2018, Cody made a wish to meet a racehorse, and with the help of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Cody and his parents Kelly and Leslie, with sister Kylie, went to Godolphin’s Gainsborough Farm in Kentucky.
Stud Farm Manager Danny Mulvihill arranged an introduction with a ‘mild mannered six-month-old weanling’.
“What happened from there was special, the foal just came up and laid his head down on Cody’s lap and just spent some quiet time there with Cody.”
“We had 40-odd foals on the farm and we could have chosen any one of them for Cody to meet,” says Danny. “What happened from there was special. The foal came up to Cody and put his head in his lap.”
“The horse kept pulling until he was right in front of Cody,” says Danny. “It was like the horse knew who was there to see him.”
“I can count on one hand the number of times Cody has belly laughed and he did it that day,” says Leslie. “From that day on, Cody completely changed.”
In 2021, Godolphin named the colt after Cody. It became Cody’s Wish. When it came to his performance on the racecourse, Cody’s Wish didn’t win any of his first three races.
Cody had an idea and adamantly told his family that Cody’s Wish will not win until he was there. “Cody said ‘Cody’s Wish won’t win until I’m there in person’, and sure enough [the day Cody was there] he won,” says Kelly.
In what can be described as nothing less than a miracle, with Cody on track to watch his best friend race, Cody’s Wish went on to not only win his maiden, but six of his next seven races.
When Cody, who speaks through a machine, is asked why he thinks he has a bond with Cody’s Wish, his answer is simple: “Because he found me and he hasn’t forgotten me. He has always looked for me – we have the same heart and drive, and we never give up.
“He always makes me smile and I love it when we get to hang out together – thank you Cody’s Wish – you are a very special horse and a very special friend.”
Kelly says that the change in Cody since meeting this horse is remarkable.
“He now laughs and hugs me – it’s been amazing. The doctors told us he would only live two years when he was born and now, he’s getting ready to turn 17.”
In an emotional statement post-race, Cody’s father Leslie said: “I think that horse has the legs Cody wasn’t given, put those two together and they make the perfect one.
The emotional scenes at Keeneland were captured on TV and streamed around the world. There was also a preview published by NBC Sports which showed the incredible bond between four-year-old Cody’s Wish and 16-year-old Cody. A real life fairy-tale.
Watch this special:
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