Judge seeks clarity on jockey betting rules before hearing Ben Melham’s case
Before jockey Ben Melham’s case into alleged betting on races in Australia and Singapore races can be heard, the judge has ordered stewards to provide more information relating to one of the charges.
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Victorian Racing Tribunal Judge John Bowman has ordered an investigation into a “universal rule” banning jockeys from betting on “any race, anywhere” before Ben Melham’s case starts on September 21.
Melham will plead not guilty at the three-day hearing in Melbourne.to seven betting-related charges levelled against him and partner Karlie Dales.
The Group 1 jockey faces a mandatory two-year ban if found guilty of placing the bets — totalling more than $21,000 — on select Australian and Singapore races between July and September 2019.
Judge Bowman on Monday asked Racing Victoria Stewards to analyse the “breadth of the rule” in relation to charge five — Melham’s alleged interest in five bets on August 18 2019 Singapore gallops totalling $2114.
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Melham, who was not riding in Singapore at the time, allegedly attended a hotel and provided money to someone to put the bets on.
“Given the submissions that have been made it’s become something of a test case,” Judge Bowman said before referencing some historic cases of jockeys pleading guilty to bets on races in Hong Kong and France.
“First challenge that I know of … this rule.”
Under the Australian Rules of Racing, section 115 (c), a jockey or apprentice jockey must not bet, or have any interest in a bet, or facilitate a bet on any race.
“Does it apply to jockeys not being able to bet on any race, anywhere?” Judge Bowman said.
Stewards on Monday agreed to collate international betting rules for jockeys and report back to the Tribunal in time for Judge Bowman to consider the question of law on September 10.
“Do our rules apply everywhere,” Judge Bowman queried.
“Or, only the countries that we have some sort of reciprocal arrangement?”
Melham will not be required to attend the new directions hearing.
Melham, who remains free to continue riding until the matter gets resolved, has booted home 11 winners from 39 rides since August 1.
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