New book chronicles bond between Madison County teen and racehorse Cody’s Wish

MADISON COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) - A new book will tell the story of a Madison County teenager’s special bond with a winning racehorse that captured hearts across the racing world.

“Cody’s Wish: A Boy, a Racehorse, and a Fight for Life” chronicles the relationship between Cody Dorman, who had a rare genetic disorder and was non-verbal, and the brown horse that took his name. The book is scheduled for release May 5, 2026, and is available for pre-order on Amazon.

Cody Dorman passed away in November of 2023, after watching Cody’s Wish win his final Breeder’s Cup Dirt Mile race. His story continues to live on outside of the racing community.

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Author Paul Halloran, a veteran journalist who writes for the Saratoga Special, first encountered the story in 2022 while covering a race at Saratoga.

“So I had to cover a race in Saratoga the Forego in which there was a heavy favorite and it looked like an easy story and that’s when Cody’s Wish upset the race,” Halloran said.

After the upset victory, Halloran received a tip about the story behind the horse’s name. His research led him to Cody Dorman and his family in Kentucky.

Personal connection drives author’s interest

The story hit home with Halloran on a personal level.

“It resonated, I have an adult daughter with profound autism and so maybe it resonated a little more with me,” Halloran said.

Over the following year, Halloran got to know the Dorman family, particularly Cody.

“You’ve heard it a lot even though Cody couldn’t speak verbally he said so much just by the vibe he let off,” Halloran said.

Halloran approached the Dorman family about writing a book to honor their son.

“I pitched them on I want to tell the story of not just the horse, but of Cody and their relationship. So my task was to bring those two things together,” Halloran said.

Message of hope for families

Halloran hopes the book will inspire readers and provide encouragement to parents of special needs children.

“I hope people take away that there is hope. Anything that is positive for kids and families in that situation so yea I just hope people take away that amidst the challenges there are good times,” Halloran said.

For Halloran who has covered horse racing for about 40 years he says the human element can’t be overlooked.

“The humans in horse racing are so interesting,” Halloran said.