After one single positive Glanders case halted racing operations in the royal city, the management committee of the Mysore Race Club (MRC) spearheaded by the new dynamic chairman KT Balakrishna is enforcing strict vigil and earnestly following the government protocols, in it's effort to successfully complete the three-cycle test done after 21 days thrice, before the National Research Centre for Equines (NRCE), Hisar certifies that the centre is free from the dreaded highly contagious zoonotic disease. Horses at the MRC campus apart, the Equidae species (Zebra) and mules if any in the Mysore Zoological park or in a radius of two kilometres will also need to be tested for Glanders before MRC gains the green signal to resume racing which in all probability will only start in May. 

"We were unfortunate that a solitary horse, One To Cherish, a two-year-old from Suraj Shaw's yard, who came here from Chennai tested positive and hopefully that will prove to be one first and last case," said Balakrishna adding that all the members of the committee and the veterinary department headed by CV Niranjan are monitoring the situation round the clock, while the government vets at work or leaving no stone unturned in their endeavour to gain MRC a clean chit from NRCE, the only authorized laboratory in South Asia designated to investigate glanders disease.

Balakrishna, who is now also the Turf Authorities of India (TAI) chairman, agreed that with no racing in all the three South racing centres, Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) and the Hyderabad Race Club (HRC) where Glanders first raised it's ugly head, the clubs are facing a financial crisis and cost cutting measures are put in place before racing resumes at the three premier South centres.

"In a TAI meeting we decided to postpone the Indian Turf Invitation Cup which MRC was to host on the first Sunday of March, 2026 to a later date. With no revenues generating in the next three months it is going to be a tough task but in the interest of the sport, the members of TAI didn't want to cancel or shift the Champion Of Champions event from MRC and the onus now is on us to quickly tide over the crisis and provide a silver lining, " said Balakrishna.

When posed with the question, will MRC help the owners who are a worried lot, the loss of one full season and the cloud of uncertainty, not knowing when racing will resume at this centre, Balakrishna disclosed that MRC will first ascertain if the club is in a position to honour the request and if it's feasible only then the committee will take a decision. The chairman further revealed that the dozen trainers from Chennai will not be included in the list and they it is learnt have asked the Madras Race Club to help them overcome the dire situation. 

"We understand that owners particularly are hit hard and we are looking to provide them some relief, but with no revenues coming in it's going to be tough," said Balakrishna pointing out that 450 horses are stationed at the MRC campus.