Cody's Wish

Central Kentucky Riding for Hope (CKRH), a non-profit which offers a variety of equine-assisted therapies and activities for people of all ages, will host its 21st annual gala fundraiser, Night of the Stars, June 22 at Fasig Tipton in Lexington. "Broadway Nights" is the theme of the event, which begins at 6 p.m., and  which includes dinner and drinks, a silent auction and a live auction in which the highest bidders earn a sponsorship of CKRH participants and their equine partners. "Night of the Stars is a meaningful way for...

When Mila's Wish (Cajun Breeze) just held on for a debut victory--and then survived a claim of foul--at Gulfstream Park Friday, track announcer Pete Aiello clued the crowd into what a special moment it was when he said, "You've heard of Cody's Wish. Here's the Florida version. Here's Mila's Wish." Much like the 2023 Horse of the Year who was named after the late Cody Dorman, the 2-year-old colt was making the wish of another youngster come true. Mila Spillone is a 4-year-old battling Aicardi syndrome, a rare genetic disorder...

Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day and the connections of 2023 Horse of the Year Cody's Wish, along with the three artists behind the "Brushes and Bronze" exhibition, will be on hand for the show's finale at the Louisville Thoroughbred Society May 1. The trio of acclaimed equine artists--portrait painter Jaime Corum, impressionist painter Lisa Palombo and sculptor Jocelyn Russell--will be joined by Day, winner of the 1992 GI Kentucky Derby, Kelly and Leslie Dorman--the parents of Cody's Wish's namesake Cody Dorman--and Danny Mulvihill of Godolphin's Gainsborough Farm; and Theresa...

The Retirement Assistance and Care for Equines (R.A.C.E) Fund will host its annual fund drive beginning with an online auction, the organization announced Saturday. The auction, which will kick off on eBay beginning May 10 at 8 pm EST, will include items such as halters from last year's Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin), California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit), Quality Road (Elusive Quality) and Mandaloun (Into Mischief), etc. along with experiences such as a VIP tour of Three Chimneys Farm. "We have some very exciting and amazing auction items again...

Godolphin's Cody's Wish (Curlin) was named 2023 Kentucky-bred Horse of the Year and older dirt male, while his dam, Dance Card (Tapit), was named broodmare of the year by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders. Godolphin also received awards for Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) as champion 3-year-old filly and as KTDF Owner of the Year and winner of the P.A.B. Widener Trophy as KTOB Breeder of the Year. Other Kentucky-bred champions announced Wednesday: 2-year-old male: Fierceness (City of Light) (Breeder Repole Stable); 2-year-old filly Just F Y I (Justify) (George...

After a nationwide vote among his peers, Junior Alvarado has won the 2024 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, Santa Anita Park announced via press release Friday. Presented annually at the Great Race Place since 1950, the award honors riders whose careers and personal character earn esteem individually as well as for the sport. Alvarado garnered national attention in 2023 as the regular rider of Horse of the Year Cody's Wish and more recently spoiled Japan's hopes in the world's richest race, the G1 Saudi Cup, aboard G1SW-KSA & MGISP Senor...

New Darley America's stallions, champion Cody's Wish (Curlin) and Proxy (Tapit), have had their first mares scanned in foal. Among the first mares bred to two-time GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and recent Eclipse Award winner Cody's Wish is Kite Beach (Awesome Again), who is responsible for 'TDN Rising Star' and GII Rachel Alexandra S. victress Tarifa (Bernardini). Proxy, a homebred son of the versatile Panty Raid (Include) who won the 2022 GI Clark S. and was third in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Classic, has gotten several mares in...

The TDN's popular annual series 'Mating Plans, presented by Spendthrift,' continues today in a conversation with Hanzly Albina of Newtownanner Stud. "I don't take this lightly at all," said Albina, who is both general manager of Newtownanner's Kentucky farm and North American bloodstock manager of the operation. "It's a ton of fun when it works out. For me, the physical is what I'm shooting for as I can't predict performance. We want to produce what we would buy in a sales ring, want to produce as nice a horse as...

Edited Press Release Awards are on the way to Kentucky's Thoroughbred breeders participating in the commonwealth's Thoroughbred Breeders' Incentive Fund (KTBIF) program. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) announces the release of $16.2 million through the KTBIF. "Our horse farm families are the backbone of our racing industry, and I'm proud to support the Incentive Fund that keeps mares and foals in Kentucky," said Gov. Andy Beshear. According to the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, the Kentucky Equine industry generates $6.5 billion and supports more than 60,000 jobs. In fact, 2023 was...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Cornishman (c, 3, Curlin--Penwith, by Bernardini) came flashing home to finish a bang-up second sprinting on debut on the GIII Lecomte undercard at Fair Grounds Jan. 20. Off as the 3-1 second choice with his Brad Cox-trained stablemate Exploration (Curlin) receiving the bulk of the action at 3-2, the Godolphin homebred was bumped from both sides after exiting from post nine and trailed the field of 11...

The TDN's popular annual series 'Mating Plans, presented by Spendthrift,' continues today in a conversation with Mulholland Springs' John Mulholland.   MEAL TICKET (10, Malibu Moon--Rainbow's Song by Unbridled's Song) to be bred to Into Mischief Second in the GII Royal Heroine S. at Santa Anita and the listed Golden Poppy S. at Golden Gate, we purchased this mare privately after her final start of her career. Meal Ticket was bred her first year to Into Mischief and produced an absolutely stunning colt that we sold to BC Stables for...

Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro--Dance Card, by Tapit), the half-brother to Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin), will stand the 2024 breeding season in Maryland at Northview Stallion Station for a fee of $5,000, the farm announced Monday. The 8-year-old MGSW, who retired after an injury while in training towards the GI Pegasus World Cup, last started in the GIII Steve Sexton Mile and finished his career with earnings of $970,133 and a record of 36-7-8-5. "Endorsed has been on our radar for quite some time and we're thrilled to present...