The Cody's Wish Story with Author Paul Halloran

I'm so pleased to welcome guest Paul Halloran, author of Cody’s Wish: A Boy, A Racehorse, and a Fight for Life, which releases in three months and is available for preorder now. A lifelong storyteller and seasoned journalist, Paul began his career as a sportswriter and editor at The Daily Item in Lynn, Massachusetts, before joining Grant Communications and later founding his own firm, PKH Communications. He’s covered horse racing since the 1980s — from his home track at Suffolk Downs to his current work with The Saratoga Special and Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Magazine. 

Paul first came upon the Cody’s Wish story when covering the Forego Stakes at Saratoga in August 2022. He developed an immediate connection with Cody’s parents and approached them with the idea for a book at the beginning of 2023. They quickly agreed, and Paul started researching the book, traveling with the family to races in Kentucky, New York, and California, and seeing first-hand the profound impact of this special boy and special horse.

The Cody’s Wish Story

The Cody’s Wish story is one of the most moving and inspirational tales in modern horse racing — a blend of compassion, courage, and an extraordinary bond between a young man and a champion Thoroughbred.

The Cody’s Wish story is not simply about a winning racehorse. It is a story about the deep connection between humans and animals, and the joy and hope that can come from unexpected places.

Cody’s Wish is an American‑bred Thoroughbred racehorse who became the American Thoroughbred Horse of the Year in 2023 and was the first two‑time winner of the prestigious Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Bred and raced by Godolphin and trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Cody’s Wish retired with 11 wins in 16 starts and over $3 million in earnings. He now stands at stud at Jonabell Farm in Lexington, Kentucky.

The horse was named after the heart of the story, Cody Layne Dorman, a young man from Richmond, Kentucky, born with Wolf‑Hirschhorn syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that left him non‑verbal, unable to walk, and dependent on a wheelchair. Doctors once told Cody’s family he might not live past age two — yet he lived to 17, defying the odds and inspiring all who met him.

In 2018, through the Make‑A‑Wish Foundation’s partnership with Keeneland, Cody visited Godolphin’s Gainsborough Farm in Versailles, Kentucky. There, he met a young foal that would become Cody’s Wish. In a moment witnessed by farm staff and Cody’s family, the foal walked up to Cody’s wheelchair and gently rested his head in Cody’s lap — a rare and immediate connection that no one present would ever forget.

That foal was later named Cody’s Wish in Cody’s honor. Over the next few years, the horse developed into a champion racehorse and captured the hearts of racing fans and his best friend, Cody Dorman.

On November 5, 2023 — the day after attending Cody’s Wish’s final Breeders’ Cup victory at Santa Anita — Cody Dorman suffered a medical emergency and died at age 17 on the flight home. His passing drew widespread attention and an outpouring of love from the racing community and beyond.

Cody’s story continues to inspire:

• A monument titled The Bond: Two Hearts — One Spirit at the Kentucky Horse Park honors the remarkable friendship between Cody and the horse.
• A book, Cody’s Wish: A Boy, a Racehorse, and a Fight for Life, chronicles his life and their bond.
• The story has helped raise awareness and funds for Make‑A‑Wish and continues to encourage compassion, resilience, and h

Thanks for listening. If this story stayed with you, I’d love for you to share it—and join me next time for another conversation worth holding onto. You can find out more about me at www.bethpride.com.