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Cody’s Wish Wins 2022 Secretariat Vox Populi Award

Edited Press Release

Cody's Wish (Curlin), this year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner who shares an endearing bond with Cody Dorman, has been voted the winner of the 2022 Secretariat Vox Populi Award. Created by Secretariat's owner Penny Chenery, the annual award recognizes the horse whose popularity and racing excellence best resounded with the public and gained recognition for Thoroughbred racing.

Owned by Godolphin, trained by Bill Mott, and ridden throughout the year by Junior Alvarado, Cody's Wish and his special story have gained affection and admiration that transcend the sport of racing. On the track, Cody's Wish's 2022 accomplishments featured four victories in five starts, including impressive performances in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and GI Forego Stakes. In addition to his racing success, it was his continuing connection with his now 16-year-old namesake Cody Dorman, who lives with a rare genetic disorder, that captured fans' hearts and an abundance of Vox Populi votes.

In 2018, Richmond, Kentucky native Dorman was offered a tour of Godolphin's Gainsborough Farm as part of Keeneland's Make-A-Wish Day. Dorman's condition, Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome, renders him unable to speak and relegates him to a wheelchair. During Dorman's visit to the farm, an inquisitive six-month-old foal walked over to young Cody and put his head in the boy's lap. And with that, the bay colt earned his name: Cody's Wish. Nearly four years later, the special bond and sweet interactions between the two continue, including just days before this year's Breeders' Cup when the horse reconnected with his longtime pal.

“Cody's Wish and his namesake Cody Dorman forged an instant bond that would grow to connect millions of fans to their inspiring story of hope and determination,” said Kate Chenery Tweedy, daughter of Penny Chenery. “Not only did Cody's Wish win the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, as Cody predicted, but both Cody's won the hearts of people everywhere. Their uplifting story exemplifies the best ideals of the Vox Populi Award, just as Mom wished.”

Nominees for the award were submitted by the Vox Populi Committee, comprised of distinguished personalities from within and outside the racing industry. Voters also had the option to write in their own favorite candidate to recognize other exceptional horses.

The Vox Populi trophy presentation is scheduled to take place at Santa Anita Park Jan. 14. For more information about the award, visit Secretariat.com.

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Voting Now Open for 2022 Secretariat ‘Vox Populi’ Award

Online voting is now open to select the winner of the 13th annual Secretariat Vox Populi Award. Created by Secretariat's late owner Penny Chenery, the Vox Populi, or “Voice of the People” award recognizes the racehorse whose popularity and racing excellence best resounded with the public and gained recognition for the sport during the past year.

Fans can vote in the online poll at Secretariat.com for one of three nominees selected by the Vox Populi Committee. Voters also have the option to write in a racehorse of their choice. The poll is open now through Nov. 30, with the winning recipient to be announced live on the FanDuel TV network Dec. 4. The Vox Populi trophy presentation is scheduled to take place at Santa Anita Park Jan. 14.

The 2022 nominees are: Cody's Wish (Curlin), the talented 4-year-old colt whose win in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile was his fourth in five starts this year, and who shares a heart-warming and celebrated bond with his namesake, Cody Dorman; Flightline (Tapit), the spectacular 4-year-old colt whose electrifying performances winning the GI Metropolitan Mile, the GI Pacific Classic by 19 1/4 lengths and the GI Breeders' Cup Classic capped off an undefeated season and an unprecedented racing career; and Rich Strike (Keen Ice), the 3-year-old colt and sensational 80-1 longshot winner of the GI Kentucky Derby whose rags-to-riches story and unheralded connections sparked hope for underdogs everywhere.

“All three of these nominees are definitely talented athletes in their own individual ways as well as fan favorites that have brought heart-warming stories and interest to the sport,” said Kate Chenery Tweedy, family historian and daughter of Penny Chenery. “Fan engagement is the name of the game–and that was Mom's vision for the Vox Populi Award and any of these horses would be a worthy recipient.”

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Voting Now Open For 2021 Secretariat Vox Populi Award

Online voting is now open for the 12th annual winner of the 2021 Secretariat Vox Populi Award. Created by Secretariat's late owner Penny Chenery, the Vox Populi, or “Voice of the People,” Award recognizes the racehorse whose popularity and racing excellence best resounded with the public and gained recognition for the sport during the past year.

The six nominees were selected by a committee comprised of several distinguished personalities from within and outside the racing industry who all share a keen interest and affection for the sport. But voters also have the option to write in a racehorse of their choice. Voting will be open through Nov. 30, and the winner will be announced in December.

This year's nominees are:

Echo Zulu, the 2-year-old filly sensation whose undefeated debut season boasted impressive wins in all four of her starts, including the NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
Essential Quality, the 3-year-old colt whose class and consistency has provided conversation throughout the racing season with five wins in seven starts, including the Belmont Stakes
Hot Rod Charlie, the gutsy 3-year-old colt who rose to be a force along the Triple Crown trail and beyond with wins in the Louisiana Derby and the Pennsylvania Derby
Knicks Go, the 5-year-old Breeders' Cup Classic and Pegasus World Cup winner whose stellar 2021 campaign resulted in earnings of $7.3 million
Letruska, the talented and tenacious 5-year-old distaffer who collected six wins in eight 2021 starts
Life is Good, the swift 3-year-old colt whose comeback from mid-season injury resulted in four wins in five starts, including the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

“Our nominees this year represent some of the brightest moments for the sport in 2021,” said Kate Chenery Tweedy, family historian and daughter of Penny Chenery. “We look forward to the fans celebrating their favorites by voting for the horses who thrilled them, who inspired them, and who provided them the most joy during another challenging year.”

The list of previous Vox Populi winners reads as a who's who among the sport's contemporary superstars and beloved equine heroes: Authentic (2020), Bricks and Mortar (2019), Winx (2018), Ben's Cat (2017), California Chrome (2016 and 2014), American Pharoah (2015), Mucho Macho Man (2013), Paynter (2012), Rapid Redux (2011), and 2010 inaugural winner Zenyatta.

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Monomoy Girl, Whitmore Among Nominees For 2020 Secretariat Vox Populi Award

Online voting is now open for the 11th annual winner of the Secretariat Vox Populi Horse of 2020. Created by Secretariat's late owner Penny Chenery, the Vox Populi, or “Voice of the People,” award recognizes the racehorse whose popularity and racing excellence best resounded with the public and gained recognition for the sport during the past year.

The Secretariat Vox Populi Horse of 2020 tops the ticket for the America's Best Racing (ABR) Fan Choice Awards in a partnership that allows fans to vote in the online poll at Secretariat.com as well as AmericasBestRacing.net for one of five nominees selected by the Vox Populi Committee. Voters also have the option to write in a racehorse of their choice at Secretariat.com. Voting will be open on both sites through Nov. 30.

The recipient of the Secretariat Vox Populi Horse of 2020, along with the winners of the other Fan Choice Awards categories, will be announced Thursday, Dec. 3. A trophy presentation for the 2020 Vox Populi winner is planned for January.

This year's nominees are: Authentic, the speedy 3-year-old colt who led wire-to-wire in both the 2020 Kentucky Derby and the Breeders' Cup Classic; Monomoy Girl, the classy 5-year-old mare and 2018 Vox Populi nominee who was undefeated during her 2020 comeback campaign that culminated with a win in the Breeders' Cup Distaff; Swiss Skydiver, the electrifying and well-traveled 3-year-old filly whose multiple stakes wins included beating the boys in the second fastest Preakness Stakes; Tiz the Law, the impressive 3-year-old colt whose four wins in six starts included the Belmont Stakes, the Travers and Florida Derby; and Whitmore, the veteran 7-year-old gelding whose first-place finishes included the Breeders' Cup Sprint and his third career win in the Count Fleet Spring Handicap.

“In a peculiar year that upended both the horse racing calendar and its traditions, we still have equine athletes who have persevered and admirably performed, oblivious to human concerns,” said Kate Chenery Tweedy, family historian and daughter of Penny Chenery. “Each of our Vox Populi nominees has captured the hearts of horse racing fans at a time when we are all are in need of inspiration.”

The list of previous Vox Populi winners reads as a who's who among the sport's contemporary superstars and beloved equine heroes: Bricks and Mortar (2019), Winx (2018), Ben's Cat (2017), California Chrome (2016 and 2014), American Pharoah (2015), Mucho Macho Man (2013), Paynter (2012), Rapid Redux (2011), and 2010 inaugural winner Zenyatta.

The nominating committee for the Secretariat Vox Populi Horse of 2020 is comprised of several distinguished personalities from within and outside the racing industry who all share a keen interest and affection for the sport. For more information about the award, visit Secretariat.com, the official website for the legendary Thoroughbred champion. Celebrating racing's past to enrich its future, Secretariat.com is a comprehensive online source for historical information, photography, merchandise, and memorabilia chronicling the enduring legacy of the 1973 Triple Crown winner. Secretariat.com can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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