On Thursday in Part Two of this excerpt from the new book Equine ER, elite racehorse Chelokee, trained by Michael Matz (Barbaro’s trainer), was operated on by Dr. Larry Bramlage, perhaps the most famous orthopedic surgeon in the world. The colt had broken down one day before the 2008 Derby at Churchill Downs and was rushed to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital an hour away in Lexington. Today, Chelokee’s final cast comes off.

A second career as a stud looked like a good possibility for Chelokee in the weeks after his operation with his recovery going relatively smoothly. He also seemed to be enjoying himself as the most popular horse at the hospital. He was good-looking and knew it, smart, proud, and a little goofy. A four-year-old horse is at the end of the puppyhood stage of equine maturity, and Chelokee loved playing with the red and green balls someone had put inside his stall and pulling on people’s clothes. Sometimes, the way women around Rood & Riddle talked about Chelokee reminded me of the way girls discuss boys in high school.

“He’s a jock (said admiringly). But it seems like all he cares about is himself.”

“He’s just so handsome