A Heartfelt Moment for Jamie Melham
Jamie Melham’s historic win at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday was a moment that will be remembered for years to come. But beyond the accolades and the cheers, it was the words from her husband, Ben, that truly touched her heart.
“I’m so proud of you,” were the words that Jamie heard from Ben after her incredible victory. These simple yet powerful words stood out among all the praise she received across Australia for completing the Caulfield/Melbourne Cup double with her horse, Half Yours.
During an appearance on The Kyle & Jackie O Show on Wednesday morning, Jamie shared how emotional the moment was for her. “He is extremely, extremely happy for me. And you know what the most amazing thing was this morning? Just rolling over and he said, ‘Honey, I’m so proud of you.’ That was the best bit.”
Despite the excitement, Jamie’s co-host, Sandilands, didn’t seem to realize that Ben was also a jockey. He asked her if she had “flogged him yesterday.” Jamie responded with a smile, “Yes, absolutely.” When asked where Ben finished in the race, she replied, “Uh, wouldn’t have a clue. Back somewhere, yeah.”
A Unique Racing Dynamic
Jamie was then asked by fellow host Cooper Johns if she realized she was overtaking her husband, who rode Smokin’ Romans, in the home straight. “Yes, I did,” she said. “I didn’t have any time (to say anything). I was going by so fast.”
Interestingly, Jamie had previously ridden Smokin’ Romans in the 2022 Melbourne Cup. She expressed her love for the horse she rode to victory, Half Yours. “Oh, absolutely. I did before, and I definitely do even more now.”
When asked about the conversation on the way home with her husband, Jamie said, “Oh my God, did you just do that?” She added, “That was it. Nothing really was going through my brain riding yesterday.”
A Pact and a Special Bond
Before winning the Cup on Tuesday, Jamie revealed that the couple had made a pact. “Now we’re married, half (prizemoney) goes to him and half goes to me,” she said. “Getting married, I said to Ben, was ‘the best day of my life.’”
Jamie emphasized her desire to make her husband and family proud. “I’ve always wanted to make him proud and make my family proud.”
The Melhams became the first married riders to compete in a Melbourne Cup. Jamie’s victory gave her her 19th success at Group One level, putting her just three behind Ben’s tally of 22.
Overcoming Challenges
Jamie’s journey as a jockey has been anything but smooth. She left school at 15 and began an apprenticeship, quickly making a name for herself by winning the Adelaide Jockey’s Premiership three times.
She moved to Melbourne and by 2021 became the first jockey to ride 100 winners in a Melbourne Premiership season. However, the pandemic brought challenges, as she and three other jockeys broke Victoria’s restrictions, leading to a five-month ban by the Victorian Racing Tribunal.
In 2023, Jamie was involved in a leaked video scandal that featured white powder on a kitchen table. Although she wasn’t charged for bringing the sport into disrepute, it was a publicity issue she didn’t need. Later that year, she suffered a serious race fall and was placed in an induced coma for five days after suffering bleeding to the brain.
Despite these setbacks, Jamie has returned to the top of her game and claimed one of Australian racing’s most prestigious prizes.
A Special Partnership
Talking about her husband, Jamie said before the Melbourne Cup: “It’s very special that we get to do this together. I told him he can run a nice second but I’m winning the race, not him.”
