Melham to face stipes over bets allegations
LEADING jockey Ben Melham is facing a long ban after being charged by Racing Victoria stewards for allegedly using his girlfriend’s account to place more than $14,000 in bets on horses in a single day.
The 17-time Group 1winning jockey, who won the VRC St Leger on Sacramento at Flemington last Saturday, is facing seven charges relating to 31 bets across seven months totalling more than $21,000.
Melham, 32, allegedly placed four bets on horses he rode. Stewards allege Melham placed the 31 bets from March to September last year.
Melham won a race at Geelong in September last year on Orleans Rock after allegedly backing the horse through his partner Karlie Dales, who was also charged by stewards.
Melham and Dales, a registered owner, were both charged for giving false or misleading evidence when questioned by stewards last September.
News Corp believes evidence, possibly video footage, obtained from a betting company is central to the case against Melham.
On March 30 last year, when Melham was sidelined with a wrist injury, it’s alleged he placed money in his partner’s account and then made 20 bets in 4½ hours totalling $14,600.
The case against Melham, who rode superstar Black Caviar to her maiden Group 1 victory in 2010, will be heard by the Victorian Racing Tribunal at a date to be fixed.
Champion jockey Damien Oliver was banned for 10 months in 2012 for placing a $10,000 bet on a horse he rode against.