Today: Finally, Dr. Larry Bramlage! In this excerpt from the new book Equine ER, we follow one of the most famous equine orthopedic surgeons in the world as he tries to save the life of Chelokee, the elite Thoroughbred trained by Michael Matz (Barbaro’s trainer) who broke down at Churchill Downs one day before the 2008 Run for the Roses … and one day before Bramlage found himself having to report Eight Belles’ death to the world. 

Dr. Larry Bramlage of Rood & Riddle moves easily between the operating room and network television, where he often provides expert commentary during racing’s big events. He is one of the top equine orthopedic surgeons in the world, a celebrity to horse people. With his white fringe of hair, white mustache, stocky build, and wire-rimmed glasses, he reminds me of an old-fashioned congressman popular with his constituents. Derby 2008 would find Bramlage not only explaining the death of the filly Eight Belles to the country on national television, but also performing surgery to try and save the life of an elite Thoroughbred named Chelokee who also broke down at Churchill one day before the Run for the Roses.

For the racing world, the repercussions of the 2008 Kentucky Derby would linger on long after the race in months of bad press, a congressional hearing, and painful self-reflection within the sport itself, which was already facing significant challenges such as declining attendance at tracks. Bramlage would play a role in the debate over racing safety by virtue of his stature and his unique insights into the fragile mechanics of the Thoroughbred racehorse.

But on the day before the Derby when Chelokee broke down, Bramlage did not know any of that yet. He was simply doing his job at Churchill an American Association of Equine Practitioners TV commentator. It was Kentucky Oaks day (named after the prestigious annual race for 3-year-old fillies). It was rainy. The track was sloppy. The Alysheba Stakes was the eighth race. In the stretch, Chelokee was in fourth place, his eyes on home. But then he took a bad step. His right front leg gave out, and the jockey went flying. Yet the horse continued to run with the injured leg Ð until one of the track’s outriders stopped him. Veterinarians rushed out, and the area around the horse was partitioned off with screens