Hong Kong's bid to qualify for the show-jumping team event at the London Olympics has failed, putting the Jockey Club's multimillion-dollar investment in the sport at risk.
The four-strong squad - half of whom are sponsored by the Jockey Club - finished bottom of the eight-team selection trials in Aachen, Germany. The solitary 2012 Games ticket was won by Ukraine, which has spent nearly HK$100 million buying horses.
'Teams from Europe, like Ukraine, spent millions of dollars on horses in their bid to qualify for the Olympics. We proved we are a force in Asia, but against the rest of the world we are still far behind,' Hong Kong Equestrian Federation (HKEF) secretary and team manager Sacha Eckjans said.
It is unclear if the Jockey Club will continue to back equestrian sports following this disappointment. Soon after the 2008 Olympic Games, the club invested HK$50 million in four senior riders - and a 10-team junior group - for a four-year period revolving around winning a medal at the 2010 Asian Games and qualifying for the 2012 Olympics. Two of the senior riders took part in Aachen - Patrick Lam and Kenneth Cheng Man-kit.
'The Jockey Club is committed until the end of 2012. I don't know what will happen after that. We will have to analyse our performances over the years before making a decision,' said Eckjans, wearing his other hat as the Jockey Club's executive manager of equestrian affairs. HKEF vice-president Michael Lee said: 'I hope the Jockey Club will continue supporting the sport. We have come a long way and, despite this setback, I see no reason why they shouldn't continue to support us.'
In a move roundly criticised by Asian nations, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) decided to lump Asia with one part of Europe in the qualifying process for the 2012 Olympics. Only one spot was available for London, and the heavily financed and backed European teams were always favourites to win.
And so it proved. Lam (riding Jockey Club Tilburg), Cheng (JC Can Do), Jennifer Lee (Carry Star) and Raena Leung (Cadanio Z) finished a poor eighth with 85 penalty points, 73 behind winners Ukraine. Lee was the best performer with just 17 penalties over the two rounds. Lam and Cheng each incurred 34, while Leung was eliminated after she fell from her horse during the first round.