‘ONE TO CHERISH’ PERISHES — AND WITH HIM, MYSORE RACING COLLAPSES

Suraj Shaw-trained ONE TO CHERISH has succumbed to Glanders, and with his tragic demise, the curtain has effectively fallen on the Mysore Winter Racing Season 2025–26.

Disturbing reports suggest that the horse was already ill upon arrival at the Mysore Race Club. The exact date of his entry into the station remains unclear. If these reports hold true, the responsibility squarely lies with the Club’s Veterinary Department, whose alleged lapse in enforcing bio-security protocols has proved devastating. This single failure has plunged owners, trainers, jockeys, and stable staff into deep uncertainty about their immediate future.

Ironically, the very Glanders containment protocols enforced by the race clubs have resulted in a self-inflicted wound. What was meant to safeguard racing has instead brought it to a grinding halt.

As matters stand, racing at Mysore and Bangalore is unlikely to resume before May 2026. Hyderabad now hangs in the balance, with its fate dependent on the outcome of the next cycle of testing. Should results prove favourable, racing there may recommence sometime in January 2026 — and that too remains far from certain.

The cost of complacency has been severe. Indian racing is once again paying the price.