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Cody Dorman posed for a trophy photo after his namesake, Cody’s Wish, won the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita Park in California on Saturday. Cody, who died on the trip home to Kentucky on Sunday, was pictured with his father Kelly (holding trophy), mother Leslie (at left) and sister Kylie. Ashley Landis AP

Cody Dorman, whose relationship with a horse who was named after him became an inspiration to the country, died while flying from Los Angeles to Kentucky the day after Cody’s Wish won his second Breeders’ Cup race.

He was 17. “We are heartbroken to share the news that our beloved Cody suffered a medical event on our trip home to Kentucky (Sunday) and he has passed away,” Kelly and Leslie Dorman, Cody’s parents, said in a statement. “On Saturday, Cody watched his best friend, Cody’s Wish, display his usual perseverance and toughness in winning a second Breeders’ Cup. Those are the same characteristics Cody has showed time and again for the 18 years we were blessed to have him. We have been completely amazed to experience the impact Cody has had on so many people, through the journey that this wondrous racehorse has taken us all on.”

Dorman, from Richmond, was born with the rare genetic disorder Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, and the effects include delayed growth and development, intellectual disability, low muscle tone and seizures. He was not supposed to live past age 2 and used a wheelchair.

Cody and his family were celebrating Cody’s 18th birthday a month early when they came to Santa Anita to see his namesake run in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

The horse, who was running his last race, won by a nose and also had to endure a five-minute inquiry after there was bumping between him and National Treasure down the stretch.

Cody was waiting down in the winner’s circle as he has on several other occasions.

“With Cody’s diagnosis at birth, we always knew this day would come, but we were determined to help Cody live his best life for however long we had him,” the boy’s parents, Kelly and Leslie Dorman, wrote.

It was in October 2018, when Cody attended a Make-a-Wish event, sponsored by Keeneland, at Gainsborough Farm in Versailles.

There was concern because Cody was in a wheelchair and Danny Mulvihill, the farm manager, was unsure how a young horse would react to that unfamiliar piece of equipment.

So, he chose an unnamed colt who had not yet been weaned from his mother, Dance Card.

“The foal just came out and took a look at the wheelchair and Cody, and took a second look and inched closer and never gave us a cause for concern,” Mulvihill said. “And he just kept inching closer until his nose was right there. He was nuzzling Cody’s hand and then his head went into Cody’s lap.”

The next year, the colt was named Cody’s Wish at the suggestion of Mary Bourne, the office manager at Gainsborough, who had stayed in touch with the Dorman family.

Two years later, Cody was having problems at home and his parents thought a visit to the farm and to see the horse he seemingly bonded with would help Cody. A visit was set up. Again, there was concern because Cody’s Wish was now full sized, fit and in training.

But, things worked out perfectly. “(The trainer’s) exact words to me when he came out is, ‘That horse remembered who he was,’” said Mulvihill. “Once again, he pulled him, pulled him, pulled him forward and he was right there in front of Cody again and nuzzling his hand.”

That scene played out several times as Cody went to the horse’s races at Churchill Downs, Keeneland, Saratoga and on Saturday, at Santa Anita.

“I think that horse probably saved Cody’s life in a lot of ways,” Kelly Dorman said Saturday. “I know him and the horse have made a lot of lives better.”

Saturday’s victory ensured a storybook ending for Cody’s Wish in his final race before retirement. He won 11 of 16 career starts, including eight in stakes races, and over $3.1 million in earnings for owner Godolphin.

“This heartfelt story has touched the hearts of many in and outside of the thoroughbred industry,” Dan Pride, chief operating officer of Godolphin, said in a statement. “And while Cody’s passing has saddened us, we find comfort in knowing that Cody found many joyous moments during this journey with his best friend, Cody’s Wish. Our hearts are with the Dorman family.”

CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO OF CODY DORMAN’S BOND WITH CODY’S WISH