After a lot of hesitancy. A series of deliberations and the uncertainty and confusion, the management committee of the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) decided to start the summer season on May Day. While the Mysore Race Club (MRC) made it clear that they will put the horse back on track only in May even before the club gained the free from Glanders certificate from the National Research Centre for Equines (NRCE) and the Hyderabad Race Club (HRC), which suffered most from the dreaded zoonotic disease chose to send out a message fast and clear that all is well at Malakpet, successfully conducting races in March, the decision makers at the BTC needlessly were dilly-dallying, failing to arrive at a consensus, when to start, despite the fact that BTC was first to be cleared Glanders free by NRCE. 

Initially a couple of members, it is learnt were of the opinion that the club should start operations in March, four-to five meeting before drawing the curtain in April and then start the summer season in the second or third week of May. This suggestion was shot down by the racing committee, pointing out that the renovation on a portion of race track would only be completed by March 10 and that a majority of the horses, though at work, lacked the fitness to perform at optimum levels and more importantly a good numbers of trainers had confessed to some of the committee members that the club would find it hard to frame six-seven races if the mandarins of the club decided in favour of a March start. Well then after a couple of meetings, discussions and deliberations, the committee headed by the chairman Shivashankar decided to start the season on April 19 and go on without a break till the end on August 6. This looked good and the pros at this centre too were satisfied and when everything was hunky-dory, the finance committee threw a spanner in the wheel, disclosing that the club just didn't have the finances required for the extended summer season. It is true that the club is facing a financial crunch and the onus is on the head of the finance committee to stop the bold and brave plans made with a hole in the pocket. Another round of meetings and deliberations and the proposed  April 19 start was knocked out and the committee now chose to tentatively start the season on May 19. Beat the summer heat and more importantly no extra-days, but this didn't go well with the pros and stakeholders at this centre. They were looking and working towards a March start and more or less settled for April 19, but another month delay, they reckoned was just not fair taking into account that BTC unlike MRC and HRC had categorically announced that no compensation would be given from their end to the owners for the four-month stoppage of the sport.

The frequent change in plans and the indecisive approach of the committee, failing to arrive at one given date in a three-month period irked the stakeholders, up in arms following which the decision makers again went into a huddle and finally and mercifully announced that the summer season will start on Friday. May 1. Well when all this March. April and May was happening, one committee member stuck his neck out and told indiarace.com that whatever the plans and designs, the season will only start on May 1and now that it has happened and he is proved right, he needless to mention is having the last laugh.

Now that the appointed day of the opener has been announced and the dust has settled on the tricky and what at end became a slippery issue, the BTC have done well to rope in Wayne Wood from Australia and Wayne, who had a stint before at this centre will be back again in the capacity of Chief Stipendiary Stipe and this is a laudable decision made by the committee.The club needed a true-blue professional to take charge and pick up the stick without any fear or favour on the habitual offenders and Wayne it appears is a good choice taking into account that the man has the knowledge and capacity to stem the rot.

Meanwhile it is confirmed that the famed breeder and owner Mr Zavaray Poonawalla will sponsor all the classics of the summer season and that effectively implies that a lot of pomp and gaiety will be associated with the big events taking into account that Mr Zavaray Poonawalla and his team provide both style and substance to the marquee events.