CODY’S WISH: A Boy, a Racehorse and a Fight for Life tells the story of the inexplicable, yet undeniable bond between Cody Dorman and Cody’s Wish. Written by The Saratoga Special’s Paul Halloran, the book highlights the myriad of medical maladies Cody faced – with the support of his parents, younger sister, Kylie, and a team of talented and dedicated medical professionals – as well as the championship career of Cody’s Wish, who was named 2023 North American Horse of the Year.
Cody Dorman had already beaten the odds when he was introduced to a 5-month-old Thoroughbred foal in 2018 through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Born with the rare genetic disorder Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome, he underwent more than 40 operations, including two open-heart surgeries before he was 3. One doctor told his parents he wouldn’t live to see his second birthday.
Yet there he was at Gainsborough Farm in Versailles, Ky., a few months shy of his 13th birthday, when Danny Mulvihill led the broodmare Dance Card and her colt by Curlin out of their stall. There was an instant connection between Cody and the foal, so impactful that the owner, Godolphin, at the suggestion of longtime employee Mary Bourne, named him Cody’s Wish.
When Cody was severely depressed during the pandemic and expressed to his parents a diminishing will to live, a visit to see “his” horse snapped him out of it. Cody later traveled to racetracks around the country to watch Cody’s Wish run.
Each time they met – in the paddock, on the backstretch or in the winner’s circle – the bond between the 1,100-pound racehorse and 70-pound boy was evident. Cody saw Cody’s Wish win a Breeders’ Cup race at Keeneland in 2022 and at Santa Anita in 2023 in the horse’s final race.
Cody’s Wish had burst onto the national scene when he upset heavy favorite Jackie’s Warrior in the Forego Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in August of 2022. Halloran was assigned to cover that race for The Special and that is when he first became aware of the story behind the horse’s name.
That led to a phone call with Kelly Dorman, who shared the story of his son’s medical challenges and the connection with Cody’s Wish. Halloran’s story earned an honorable mention in the 2022 Media Eclipse Awards. At the beginning of 2023, Halloran, a 40-year journalist, approached Kelly and Leslie Dorman with an idea for a book on their son and they quickly agreed.
“This is a story of resilience and hope,” said Halloran, who worked for The Item for 15 years and has been a public relations professional since 2000. “I will be forever grateful to the Dormans for entrusting me with the honor of telling Cody’s story. My singular goal for this book was that they read it and feel I did that story justice.”
That box can be checked.
“There was no one better to tell this story than Paul,” Kelly Dorman said. “From the very first time we spoke, he showed a genuine interest in Cody and he made it clear this would be a book about him first, then the champion horse he was named for. We are proud to have this book to help carry on Cody’s legacy.”
The book, which was officially released this week, has drawn acclaim from those in horse racing and beyond.
“It’s the rare book that makes you want to cry and cheer at the same time,” said Al Roker, co-host of TODAY on NBC. “Cody’s Wish tells a story that has the heart of a Thoroughbred champion and the soul that beats with the wings of angels. And it’s all true. This is so very special.”
“Paul’s understanding, empathy and enthusiasm for those involved comes out masterfully in his writing. This book is a must read for anyone interested in racing,” said Tom Law, managing editor of The Saratoga Special. “Even those without a passion for racing will be enthralled by this story of courage, compassion and the unmistakable bond between a boy and a horse.”
CODY’S WISH: A Boy, a Racehorse and a Fight for Life, with a foreword by legendary NBC broadcaster Tom Hammond, is published by Lyons Press, a division of the Globe Pequot Publishing Group. It is available where books are sold and at codyswishbook.com.
