Mandy Melham, the mother of champion jockey Ben Melham, has been placed on Racing Victoria's disqualified persons list, effectively barring her from attending race meetings across the state. The ban comes amid an ongoing investigation into a horse purchase, specifically concerning allegations that she failed to provide the necessary documentation to racing stewards.
Investigation Details and Disqualification
Racing Victoria confirmed that Mandy Melham, a Ballarat-based figure, was added to the disqualified persons list in May this year. The probe centres on the paperwork related to a horse she purchased, with stewards alleging she did not hand over the official documents as required. This administrative lapse triggered the disqualification, which remains in effect while the investigation continues.
Mandy Melham is the mother of Ben Melham, a 38-year-old Group 1-winning jockey who secured victory in the $2 million Blue Diamond Stakes earlier this year. Ben is married to fellow jockey Jamie Melham, formerly known as Jamie Kah, who made history in 2023 by winning the Melbourne Cup. Notably, there is no suggestion that either Ben or Jamie have any involvement in or knowledge of the investigation into Mandy's actions.
Impact on Spring Carnival Attendance
The disqualification means Mandy Melham will be unable to watch her son and daughter-in-law compete live during the upcoming Spring Carnival in Melbourne, where both are expected to secure top rides in major races. Beyond attending races, she is also prohibited from racing horses in her own name and from betting on horse races. However, she has the option to be removed from the disqualified persons list if she complies with the requests from Racing Victoria stewards. Additionally, she retains the right to appeal the decision to the Victorian Racing Tribunal.
Other Disqualified Persons
Racing Victoria's disqualified persons list includes other notable figures such as Bill Vlahos and Mark Dosen. Vlahos, aged 60, was the mastermind behind a betting scam known as "The Edge" and served time in prison for defrauding friends, family, and others of millions of dollars. Dosen has also been incarcerated for multiple crimes, including blackmail, kidnapping, fraud, aggravated burglary, and recklessly causing injury. The inclusion of Mandy Melham on this list underscores the seriousness of the allegations against her, though her case is administrative in nature rather than criminal.
