Racing Victoria Stewards have issued seven charges against star jockey Ben Melham following an investigation into betting activity between March 2019 and September 2019 that the Stewards allege was in breach of Mr Melham’s obligations under the Rules of Racing.
Ben Melham has also been charged with providing false and/or misleading evidence during an interview in September 2019.
Read more 📝: Ben Melham hit with serious betting charges
The charges:
Charge One:
In contravention of AR 115(1)(c), on 27 March 2019, through his partner Karlie Dales’ betting account, Melham placed a $500 win bet on the thoroughbred horse Venezuela racing in race 7 at Sandown that day. Venezuela ran unplaced and Melham was not riding at the time.
Charge Two:
In contravention of AR 115(1)(c), on 30 March 2019, Melham facilitated and/or had an interest in the making of, 20 bets totaling $14,600 on thoroughbred horse races between approximately 1:18pm and 5:36pm on 30 March 2019, as a result of him initially placing $3000 cash into Dales’ betting account at a Hotel at approximately 11:42am that day Melham was not riding at the time.
Charge Three:
In contravention of AR 115(1)(c), on 19 May 2019, through Dales’ betting account, Melham placed a two-legged multi bet to the value of $2,500, one leg of which included the thoroughbred horse Amazingly, which ran in Race 8 at the Sunshine Coast that day. The other leg of the bet was not a thoroughbred horse race and Melham did not ride at the Sunshine Coast that day.
Charge Four:
In contravention of AR 115(1)(e), on 23 July 2019, through Dales’ betting account, Melham placed bets to the value of $1,850 on thoroughbred horses Heirborn, Al Dorama and/or Shot of Irish, all of which were running the next day at Sandown in races 2, 6 and 8 respectively, and to be ridden by Melham.
On 24 July 2019, Melham rode Al Dorama and Shot of Irish at Sandown in races 6 and 8 respectively. Heirborn was scratched that morning.
Charge Five:
In contravention of AR 115(1)(c), on 18 August 2019, Melham made, facilitated and/or had an interest in the making of, 5 bets totaling $2114 on thoroughbred horse racing in Singapore, when he attended a Hotel and supplied cash to someone who placed those bets. Melham did not ride in Singapore at the time.
Charge Six:
In contravention of AR 115(1)(c), on or prior to 1 September 2019, through an associate, Melham facilitated bets for Dales on Orleans Rock which ran in Race 9 at Geelong that day.
Orleans Rock won the race and was ridden by Melham.
Charge Seven:
Contrary to AR 232(i), evidence given by Melham at a 3 September 2019 interview about placing cash into Dales’ betting account was false and/or misleading.
The above charges will be heard by the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.
