Shattered. The owners, trainers and the racing buffs at the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) are shattered with the result that a solitary horse has tested positive for glanders and the fact that this premier racing centre will be shut-down for the next three months. The National Research Centre for Equines (NRCE) confirmed on Friday evening that Jerome (Arod out of Paramour) a juvenile from trainer Inayathullah's yard had tested positive, while informing the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (Hebbal) Bengaluru, that necessary actions under the provisions of Infectious Diseases Act 2009 (Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Disease in animals Act 2009) in vogue in the state may be taken immediately. It is learnt that the state Animal Husbandry unit has informed the club that they will take control and monitor all operations including the recommended check on the equine movement and zoo-sanitary measures to prevent spread of the notifiable disease from Monday. 

Meanwhile the Mysore Race Club (MRC) are keeping their fingers crossed, hoping that the result of a repeat sample of the two-year-old bay colt One To Cherish will come out negative. MRC had sent out four samples to NRCE and results obtained on Friday confirmed that three have tested negative, while a final test will be conducted from the Paired Serum sample and Nasal Swabs (In triplicate) collected from One To Cherish before declaring the final result on Saturday or latest in the morning on Monday. MRC chairman G Venkatesh disclosed that MRC is hoping that the wheel of fortune will point in favour of the club. "Let's face it. It is a 50-50 chance and if we gain a negative report we will resume racing next week," said Venkatesh adding that pros at MRC or prepared and will be thrilled to get going again." 

After the government men and machinery take control, glanders being zoonotic, a strict three-test cycle now begins with a 21-day gap between each test and if all the 650-700 horses stationed at this centre come clean after the third mandatory test then the disease will be de-notified and the racing centre will be given the clearance to start operations. In all this three test cycles even if a solitary animal comes positive in the third and final test then the whole three-test cycle will be repeated on all horses and that effectively means extension of time period from three to five months. 

Chief Veterinary officer and manager of the famed Kunigal Stud Farm, Dinesh disclosed that it's time to seriously look from where it all started and seal all the gaps and holes ensuring that this dreaded disease will not raise it's ugly head again. "It's very unfortunate that BTC and HRC have been hit hard at a time when the game is struggling to survive following the 40 percent GST slab," said Dinesh pointing out that strict vigil and all precautionary measures are in place at the Kunigal Stud Farm. 

"A three-month shutdown will hit the owners, trainers and the working staff under their care and hopefully it all will end after the third test," said BTC steward Mahesh Medappa adding that BTC will follow all the government protocols. " A committee meeting is scheduled on Saturday evening to take stock of the situation and to discuss threadbare what the club needs to do next in this situation," said Mahesh.  

Well the road ahead is testing and there are no short-cuts. Both the administrators of the game and the professionals are aware of the fact that they too need to play a responsible part in an effort to get racing back on track and the body-language down after the jolt on Friday, now suggests that they are ready for the big task on hand. "The club with the members of KROA and KTA will work to tide over the crisis after the first three-test cycle," said Mahesh.