Carson Jost, born with the rare genetic disorder known as Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, often recedes into the background. He is unable to walk or talk. His brain’s development stopped after the first year of what has been a 31-year fight for survival.

The parents of this courageous young man, Kim and Wade, are heartened by knowing that Carson has far surpassed the projections of doctors who thought he would live for four years at most. They view their time with him as a gift, no matter how severe the challenges each day may bring, and cherish life with him and his siblings.

Carson Jost surrounded by his siblings. (Courtesy of the Jost Family)

Carson has always been a spectator while Courtney, 28, Connor, 25, and Emma, 23, excelled in various sports. His parents sought some way to shed light on the 5-foot, 90-pound Carson and make him prominent. With the help of West Point Thoroughbreds, they achieved that beyond their wildest dreams by naming a promising 2-year-old Carson’s Run.

The talented colt is bound for the Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Nov. 3 at Santa Anita. He secured an automatic, fees-paid berth for that $1 million race with an authoritative 2 ¼-length victory in the Sept. 16 bet365 Summer Stakes at Woodbine.

Wade Jost said of the decision to name a horse after his son, “He lives in his own little world. It’s one of those where I thought this would be kind of a neat thing to do, to live vicariously through another thing.”

Jost and Terry Finley, founder of West Point Thoroughbreds, had tossed around the idea of saluting Carson in that manner for more than a decade. Finley’s instinct told him the right horse had finally come along.

“I had a voice telling me, ‘Call Wade,’ ” Finley said. “Everything just kind of fell into place.”

The two men became fast friends when they were plebes at the United States Military Academy in 1982. They helped each other through Beast Barracks, seven weeks of mental and physical anguish designed to determine whether first-year students have the mettle to lead during the horror of war.

“They want to tear you down to build you up,” Finley said.

Finley and Jost withstood Beast Barracks and West Point’s other rigors to serve in the military. Finley left after honoring his commitment. He expressed the utmost admiration for Jost, who was deployed to Iraq to fight in the Gulf War as part of the First Cavalry Division and was embroiled in other conflicts before he retired in 2006.

“If I could do it all over again, I would do it all over again,” Jost said. “I loved serving this country.”

Carson Jost at home. (Courtesy of the Jost Family)

Beast Barracks, the Gulf War, nothing quite prepared Jost for the tremendous adversity his oldest child faces. According to Jost, those who served in his unit experienced an unusually high rate of birth defects in their offspring. While studies could not directly link those issues to something that might have occurred during combat, Wade and Kim are devoted to finding a way forward.

“There are certain things you can’t control and this is one of them,” Jost said, his voice often choking with emotion during a phone interview from the family’s home in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Carson’s immune deficiencies led him to contract Covid-19, SARS, and other infections. His bones are brittle, resulting in multiple fractures. He suffers frequent seizures.

The Jost family found solace through its involvement in the racing world. Cody Dorman, the namesake for Cody’s Wish, winner of last season’s Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, also was born with Wolf-Hirschhorn. Jost and Cody’s father, Kelly, have compared notes and developed a friendship. They hope their families can meet soon.

Cody is more advanced than Carson because he can communicate through technology. Subtle movements create words on his tablet. Carson relates to his family through facial expressions. “You can tell when he’s happy. You can tell when he’s sad,” the father said.

West Point Thoroughbreds, which includes Jost as a partner, and Steven Bouchey purchased the prospect that would be named Carson’s Run for $170,000 as a 2-year-old in training at the 2023 OBS Spring Sale. Carson watched on television as the youngster won two of his first three starts.

The Christophe Clement trainee made an auspicious debut at Saratoga on July 29, going 1 1/16 miles on turf and displaying the courage of his namesake in prevailing by a neck.

After Carson’s Run missed by half a length when second in the Aug. 31 With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga, he rebounded to easily capture his first Grade 1 test at Woodbine for regular rider Dylan Davis with a Breeders’ Cup berth on the line.

“He’s improving with every start. He’s still learning, even after his last start,” Davis said, adding, “He’s a nice horse. He’s going to be very competitive going into the Breeders’ Cup.”

Jost clings to the hope that somehow Carson understands the run his horse is on.

“Can he understand the word ‘Carson?’ My wife would tell you he does,” Jost said. “I would agree with her that when you hear the announcer talking about Carson’s Run making a move, he seems to be a little more animated when the word ‘Carson’ comes up.

“We don’t know. We don’t know.”