On Monday in Part One of this excerpt from the new book Equine ER, elite racehorse Chelokee, trained by Michael Matz (Barbaro’s trainer), broke down one day before the 2008 Derby. He was rushed to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital where Dr. Larry Bramlage, perhaps the most famous equine orthopedic surgeon in the world, would be his surgeon. Today, inside Bramlage’s famous lifesaving procedure for horses with fetlock injuries, as well as what happened after Chelokee got to the hospital. (Also, special note: Equine ER author Leslie Guttman will be at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington this Saturday, August 15, for the official launch of the book. It is Hats Off Day, a day of celebrating the horse industry, free admission to the public. Post time: 2 p.m.)

Chelokee’s breakdown was the second time Matz and Bramlage were brought together by a horse’s fate, for Bramlage had been working the 2006 broadcast of the Preakness when Barbaro broke down. Back then, the burden was upon him to explain to viewers what had happened to the big bay Kentucky Derby winner, as it was for him with Eight Belles twenty-four hours after Chelokee injured himself.

For days after Eight Belles’ death, Bramlage was the equine veterinarian most in demand for comment by the Washington Post, New York Times, Good Morning America, and every other media outlet, as had been the case after Barbaro’s breakdown. Bramlage was asked not only about the medical aspects of Eight Belles’ fatal injuries but whether he thought the sport should continue. He believed Eight Belles’ breakdown, coupled with Barbaro’s, while tragic, did not signify an epidemic and said so.

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