The organizers of the 2008 Olympic Equestrian Events deserve a round of applause, a standing ovation and a gold medal!

As the venue provider (and financier), the Hong Kong Jockey Club promised the best possible facilities for horses, riders and spectators in order to help Beijing toward its aim of staging “the best ever Olympic Games”. The Jockey Club has indeed delivered on that promise in every way.

The widely quoted figure of HK$1.2 billion (and rising) that the Club invested in the facilities provided a truly state-of-the-art venue with:

• Air-conditioned stables for 200 horses,
• a world-class equine veterinary clinic,
• excellent farrier services,
• the finest horse transport arrangements,
• 13 training arenas (including a large air-conditioned indoor arena),
• a sand / fiber footing surface that can take up to 100 liters of water per hour and still be safe for the horses to compete on,
• various galloping tracks on the infield of the Sha Tin racecourse,
• and, of course, the stunning 5km Olympic cross-country course and temporary stabling facilities at the Hong Kong Golf Club and the Jockey Club’s Beas River Country Club.

As most of these facilities will soon be taken down, rebuilt as strictly horse racing facilities and / or reinstated for the Hong Kong Sports Institute and the Golf Club, one can’t help but ask the question, “Do the long-term benefits offset the costs?”

The I.O.C. regards “legacy” as its essence. Its website states:

“Legacy is our raison d’etre. It ensures that the Olympic Games are more than metres and medals … [and that] the Games leave behind a host of social, economic and environmental benefits.”

Looking forward, will the people of Hong Kong recognize lasting social, economic and environmental benefits that counterbalance the cost of having staged the Olympic Equestrian Events? And does the $1.2 billion figure even include the cost of tearing down, reinstating and rebuilding that is yet to come?

Beijing probably spent 100 times that amount to foot the bill for the Olympics in their entirety, but it is nonetheless perfectly fair to ask what Hong Kong gets in return for its contribution. Will our economy benefit?  Will we enjoy any infrastructure improvements? Have we really earned the distinction of calling Hong Kong the “Equine Capital” or is this perhaps a bridge too far?

“Capital” implies being the ‘seat of government’ (which, in equestrian terms is Luzanne, Switzerland, home of the International Equestrian Federation), or it suggests being the ‘center’ for a particular activity (an accolade that in equestrian circles should probably go to Aachen, Germany).

I think a definite benefit is that the Olympic Equestrian Events have gone a long way toward generating interest and educating people in Hong Kong about horse sports beyond horse racing. But will this newfound enthusiasm lead to one big letdown now that the Olympics have come and gone?

One might hope – at the very least – that Hong Kong’s equestrian enthusiasts (and those aspiring to be) will prosper from the Jockey Club’s huge investment. There are nine public riding schools in Hong Kong supporting 1,500 riders who currently take lessons. Since the announcement that Hong Kong would host the Olympic Equestrian Events, the waiting lists at some of the riding schools are now 3 years long with between 2,000 - 3,000 people waiting for their chance to learn to ride a horse.

Penfold Park will be a nice equestrian facility for a select few to enjoy for years to come, and the riding schools will get some world-class sand footing out of this deal. So there are certain perks. Where, though, are the facilities and infrastructure to satisfy Hong Kong’s newfound interest in taking part in equestrian sports? What will become of the HK$25 million worth of horseflesh purchased by the Jockey Club and Equestrian Federation? With the world-class facilities that Beas River now has to offer, Hong Kong has the means to host international-level equestrian events for our own and other top-class riders to participate in, and for our newfound enthusiasts to enjoy. Let’s hope that the relevant authorities can join hands to make this happen.

Hong Kong Equestrian Federation president, Simon Ip, says in a recent Time Out Magazine interview: “We don’t actually have any physical legacy.”

* This is personal view. RTHK is not responsible for the content of the article.

Riders said that the footing and underlying drainage system in the main competition arena was “amazing”

The racecourse and surrounding buildings made for a spectacular backdrop to the Olympic venue’s training arenas in Sha Tin

The horses undoubtedly enjoyed their stabling facilities at the Olympic venue and perhaps even a bit of playtime

Air-conditioned stables, hot water, cool misting fans … no expense spared for the comfort and safety of the horses