Ben Melham charged with betting offences

[Wandering Eyes]

RV stewards have charged jockey Ben Melham with a string of betting offences.

High profile Melbourne jockey Ben Melham faces charges relating to bets totalling thousands of dollars made through his partner’s account.

Racing Victoria stewards on Monday issued seven charges against Melham over bets made during a six-month period last year.

One of the charges is for giving false or misleading evidence during an interview in September.

Many of the bets were made through the account of Melham’s partner, registered owner Karlie Dales, who has also been charged with giving false or misleading information to stewards.

On one afternoon on March 30, 2019, Melham is alleged to have facilitated and/or had an interest in 20 bets totalling $14,600 on thoroughbred races after depositing $3000 cash into Dales’ betting account at a hotel earlier in the day.

Melham was not riding at the time.

On July 23, Melham is alleged to have placed bets to the value of $1850 through Dales’ betting account on Heirborn, Al Dorama and/or Shot Of Irish, horses he was booked to ride at Sandown the following day.

Heirborn was scratched but Melham rode Al Dorama and Shot Of Irish in their respective races at Sandown, finishing a close second and third respectively.

Another charge relates to five bets totalling $2114 on August 18 on thoroughbred races in Singapore after Melham allegedly gave money to someone to place bets on his behalf.

None of the charges relate to Melham betting against horses he was riding while one bet placed through Ms Dales’ account was on a horse Melham rode to win on September 1 at Geelong.

The charges will be heard by the Victorian Racing Tribunal at a date to be determined.

Melham is equal fourth in this season’s Melbourne metropolitan jockeys’ premiership.

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