In only four words, True or False, Yes or No, let's understand what went right and what wrong was done in the last one month at the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) that has resulted in five horses testing positive for glanders. The second samples have been rushed to National Research Centre for Equines (NRCE), Hissar and barring a miracle, the club will go on a long holiday, thanks to the lackadaisical approach of the veterinary department headed by Chief veterinary officer, Dr.Senthil Kumar. 

A sizeable number of the club members, who readily passed all the resolutions at the EGM last Sunday, and a majority of the racing buffs are disappointed that the men and machinery at this premier centre failed to stop the dreaded disease from making an entry and quickly shutting shop for the next four months. 

Now coming to what is true and what is false and Yes or No. 

The Veterinary department took it easy and failed to respond quickly and aggressively to the task on hand. (True). And that was simply because, Senthil and his team initially didn't take the symptoms seriously and chose to wait and watch which led to deterioration in health of the five suspected cases on hand. The veterinary chief, it is learnt, started to treat for fungal infection when glanders had actually set in. 

Did the veterinary department draw up designs and plans to combat the disease before glanders raised it's ugly head at this centre. (No). Surprisingly no plans were drawn and the veterinary department simply threw caution to the winds. No preparation even after knowing that glanders had started to take a big toll in Hyderabad. 

Is it true that some of the trainers including the trainers of the suspected horses, which finally tested positive, looked at it as a routine cough and cold and stopped the mandarins of the club from raising the red flag. (Yes). The trainers according to a couple of members of the management committee, first provided the false confidence, stating that it appeared to be a routine medical issue and that there was no cause for panic.  And later the same professionals suggested that the suspected horses be moved to a farm house in Hosur. 

Is it true that all the horses tested positive are two-year-old unraced youngsters from Pathy's, Sans Craintes Stud Farm in Coimbatore. (Yes). But all the youngsters came into the BTC campus with a clear medical report and certificate in March, before showing signs of glanders in early November. 

The Managing Committee of the BTC failed to address the critical issue on a war footing. (True). The reason being that the committee totally relied on the veterinary department for clues and solutions and failed to look and act on the ground reality. The onus was on the committee to act swiftly. But sadly that didn't happen. They were caught closing the door after the horse had bolted.  

One Mysore horse tested positive. (True). The Mysore Race Club (MRC) had sent two samples to Bengaluru and the tests revealed that Suraj Shaw's two-year-old was positive. Incidentally this horse, also from Pathy's Stud Farm entered MRC after it was first sent to Chennai before Suraj Shaw brought his lot to MRC after obtaining license to train at this centre. 

Is it true that MRC has sent the second sample of the glanders positive animal to Pune and also to NRCE (Hissar), which is globally recognised and is the only laboratory in South Asia designated to investigate glanders disease. (True). Pune has the facility and most Stud Farms and Turf Clubs send their samples here for medical certification. Nevertheless, NRCE, Hissar is an accredited laboratory equipped to do the OIE validated Complement Fixation Test authorised to Notify any disease.

All 37 samples sent out by the Royal Calcutta Turf Club (RCTC) to Pune came back negative. (True). RCTC were on the ball right from the start and took no chances. Strict monitoring and tight vigilance before sending out samples and obtaining the right results. 

Casteel from  Satish Narredu's yard has tested positive for glanders in Kolkata. (False).  Casteel was only down with a lung infection. 

Mysore can continue racing if the solitary sample comes negative from the Pune laboratory. (True). Apart from Suraj Shaw's horse certified negative, MRC will now need to obtain permission of the state government.