Chelokee (April 15, 2004 – May 2, 2014) was an American

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...

racehorse.

Background

Bred by Foley Farms Bloodstock, he was sired by multiple stakes winner

Cherokee Run Cherokee Run (March 15, 1990 – July 2, 2016) was an American thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Background He was bred by George Onett of Stone Gate Farm. Founder of Ocala Breeder Sales Company and first chairman of the board. sired by 1982 ...

. He was out of the mare Dixie Ghost, who is the daughter of Mississippi Dixie by Dixie Bandland, and traces back to

Northern Dancer Northern Dancer (May 27, 1961 – November 16, 1990) was a Thoroughbred who, in 1964, became the first Canadian-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby. He then became one of the most successful sires of the 20th century. He is considered a Canad ...

Nearco Nearco (January 24, 1935 – June 27, 1957) was an Italian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse described by ''Thoroughbred Heritage'' as "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century" and "one of the most important sires of the century." He ...

and

Nashua Nashua may refer to: * Nashaway people, Native American tribe living in 17th-century New England Places In Australia: * Nashua, New South Wales In the United States: * Nashua, California * Nashua, Iowa * Nashua, Minnesota * Nashua, Kansas City ...

. He was sold at the 2005 Keeneland Sales for $290,000 to Centennial Farms.

Racing career

At three, Chelokee won the Northern Dancer Breeders Cup Stakes (G3), the inaugural Barbaro Stakes and placed third in the

Florida Derby The Florida Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Since 2005, it has been run five weeks before the Kentucky Derby, which is held on the first Saturd ...

(G1). During the running of the 2008

Alysheba Stakes The Alysheba Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three and older over a distance of miles on the dirt held annually in early May on the Kentucky Oaks day meeting at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky duri ...

, Chelokee suffered a career-ending injury, when he slipped and dislocated the sesamoid bones in his right front leg. Chelokee was transported to

Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital was established in Lexington, Kentucky in 1986 as a partnership between veterinarians William Rood and Thomas Riddle. The facility offers a range of services for the treatment of horses. They have cared for many famous ...

. The dislocation caused destruction of all of the supporting ligaments to the back of the fetlock and pastern joint, making the ankle unstable and requiring surgery. Three days after the catastrophic injury Larry Bramlage, DVM, of Rood and Riddle performed a fetlock anthrodesis, fusing the bones to eliminate the fetlock joint. The fusion took a plate 14 inches long and 18 screws to lock it into place with approximately two feet of wire laced into the back of the ankle to replace the ligaments. Dr. Bramlage also put in 12 inches of high-density polyethylene to replace the ligaments in the pastern joint.

Retirement

With his racing career over, Chelokee was sent to stud at Tom Simon’s Vinery in

Lexington, Kentucky Lexington is a city in Kentucky, United States that is the county seat of Fayette County, Kentucky, Fayette County. By population, it is the List of cities in Kentucky, second-largest city in Kentucky and List of United States cities by popul ...

. Chelokee successfully covered 24 mares in 2009, but having an injury that prevented him to be put out to pasture and a hoof which required a special glue-on shoe and 24-hour care, it was decided that he might be better served in another breeding program. Chelokee's owner,

Centennial Farms {{other uses, Centennial (disambiguation), Centenary (disambiguation) A centennial, or centenary in British English, is a 100th anniversary or otherwise relates to a century, a period of 100 years. Notable events Notable centennial events at a ...

decided to donate him to the

University of Arizona The University of Arizona (Arizona, U of A, UArizona, or UA) is a public land-grant research university in Tucson, Arizona. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, it was the first university in the Arizona Territory. T ...

's Equine Center in Tucson. Chelokee will be utilized in the school's Thoroughbred breeding program, which is part of the University of Arizona Equine Program and the Race Track Industry Program (RTIP). "Everybody was excited about this plan, because we knew it's a great home and that the students would fall in love with him. He's got a great personality and is a beautiful individual" - Centennial President Don Little Jr On July 8, 2012 Lady Kee (filly) became the first winner for Chelokee winning by lengths at Prairie Meadows. On May 2, 2014, Chelokee was euthanized. The University of Arizona Equine Sciences Program stated on its Facebook page that "The fight was still there but his beautiful body was tired and giving out on him."

References

{{reflist 2004 racehorse births 2014 racehorse deaths Thoroughbred family 9-c Racehorses trained in the United States Racehorses bred in Florida