The Kentucky region of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Three Chimneys Farm recently teamed up to grant a young boy’s wish of meeting Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes (both gr. I) winner Smarty Jones. His experience will be chronicled June 30 during SportsCenter’s “My Wish�?series at 6:00 on ESPN.

Nine-year-old Patrick Munro of Greenlawn, N.Y. is one of five kids from the Make-A-Wish Foundation whose sports-related wish will be highlighted on the SportsCenter series. 

Through the help of John Greely, a strong supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, experiences were arranged for Munro and his family aimed at giving him a unique and memorable experience in Kentucky and hands-on involvement with horses, which are his passion.

Patrick, who suffers from hydrocephalus and, as a result, is blind and hearing impaired, spent several days in Central Kentucky in April. On the first day of his visit, Munro and his family were invited to Three Chimneys Farm to fulfill the boy’s wish to meet Smarty Jones. 

Munro was first introduced to Smarty Jones by Three Chimneys Farm owner Robert Clay, who helped him pet and interact with the champion. He was then given a tour of the farm and was able to meet and interact with several of Smarty Jones�?babies. The day Munro visited was also declared Patrick Munro Day in the town of Midway. 

“We at the farm were as pleased to meet Patrick as he was to meet Smarty Jones,�?said Clay. “Pat is such an inspiration to us in how he has overcome adversity in his life time and time again. If more people shared the same attitude as Patrick does, the world would be a better place.�?

The day after Munro’s visit to Three Chimneys, he and his family were hosted by Churchill Downs, where they had the opportunity to meet several jockeys and listened to the horses run. 

On the following day, Patrick and his family were taken to The Kentucky Horse Park, where Patrick was able to visit Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, a therapeutic riding facility. On the last day of his visit, John Greely hosted Munro in his box at Keeneland, where he was presented with a key to the city of Lexington.