With a pall of gloom descending on racing operations in Western India, Kolkata and Delhi due to the outbreak of Equine Influenza, the new Managing Committee at the Bangalore Turf Club is sparing no efforts to sanitize their Club's premises against this dreaded disease. Realizing the gravity of the situation, they have announced certain pro-active measures to safeguard the health of the race horses stationed at this centre. In order to put these measures in place, the authorities have asked for the full support and co-operation of the concerned jockeys and owners at Bangalore. It was a strange sight to see Suraj Narredu, Appu, PS Chouhan and Gnaneshwar being denied an opportunity to give track work to horses in the morning. It had been announced that any jockey who rides at another centre shall not come into close contact with a horse stationed at the BTC for a period of 72 hours. These jockeys had ridden at Hyderabad on Sunday and Monday. Another proposal is to sanitize the horses against people going in and out of stables. This would include owners, their families and suppliers of various products who would normally have been frequenting these areas. Trainers and their employees would be the only personnel allowed to come in close proximity of the horses. As an official put it aptly, "It is like an ICU in a hospital. Even a family member would refrain from going in, lest he pass on an unwanted infection to the patient." The gates of the BTC are closed and no horse-van is allowed to enter their premises. Inward movement of horses from various stud farms or even from Mysore Race Club has been banned for the moment. At a press briefing addressed by Mr Jayant Shah, in the absence of Mr PV Shetty (the new Chairman of the Club), it was announced that the Bangalore Winter Season shall commence on Friday, the 7th of November. There shall be 32 days of racing and the Season is scheduled to end on Saturday, the 28th of March. Racing shall be conducted on Fridays and Saturdays, with alternate weeks having racing only on Saturdays. It was also announced that there shall be racing on Wednesdays at Mysore for 16 weeks commencing from the 12th of November. The Club has licensed 44 "A" trainers and 70 jockeys. While the number of horses expected to participate is going to be almost the same as last year (About 725-750), there is a quantum jump in the stake money that has been advertised for this period. The stakes have been increased to Rs 12.40 Crore as compared to Rs 10.30 Crore disbursed last year. The Poonawalla Bangalore Derby, which had got cancelled last year due to unavoidable circumstances, shall be held on the 26th of January, 2009. A new feature has been incorporated with regards to the weights to be carried in important "Terms" races. It has been announced that in all terms races for older horses, the minimum weight allocated hereafter shall be 50 kgs. With the retirement of Mr Raman, the Managing Committee has appointed Mr Shivaprasad as the new Stipendiary Steward at the BTC. Mr TS Mahendher takes over as the Clerk Of The Course. The Acting Chairman requested for co-operation from all concerned, and hoped that racegoers all over the country shall enjoy 32 days of clean, fair and healthy racing at this centre. We at indiarace have compiled a short list of horses that are expected to show out during the early part of the season. Our track reporter feels that they can be followed with a fair amount of confidence. The list is as follows.....Star Of Washington, Originality, Pearl Of Bangalore, Alcmene, Hallmark, Raider's Sun, Pallazio's Son, Hill Of Grace, Icebreaker, Excellent Ability, Grand Topaz, Angel Fire, Poetic, Tomsk, Valid Expectation, An Equal Music, Glorious Princess, Enduring Star, Dreams, Sugriv, Sun Zone, Chelsey Dancer, Mighty Heart, Red Shift and Western Command.