Jamie Kah: Name Change, Net Worth, and Career Milestones
On 4 November 2025, race fans searching for Jamie Kah found a different name on the winner’s list: Jamie Melham — the same person after marrying fellow rider Ben Melham and now racing under her married name. The name change explains almost every other question about her, including the “not riding today” confusion.
Melbourne Cup: 2025, on Half Yours · Race-card name: Jamie Melham · Caulfield-Cup/Melbourne-Cup double: reported by RNZ as a first by a female jockey · Record: 1,388 wins from 7,967 starts, per Nine
Confirmed facts
The name
Jamie Lee Melham, née Kah, rides under her married name. Nine used that name in its post-Cup profile.
The win
Half Yours, with Melham aboard, won the 2025 Melbourne Cup. RNZ reported the result.
The first
RNZ reported that the win completed a Caulfield-Melbourne Cups double, a first for a female jockey. RNZ
The couple
Nine also noted that the 2025 Cup was the first time a married couple raced against each other. Nine
The snapshot: “Kah” did not disappear; it became “Melham.”
Has Jamie Kah changed her name?
What is Jamie Kah’s married name?
Australian broadcaster Nine identifies her full name as Jamie Lee Melham, née Kah. The reason for the switch is not a suspension, retirement, or illness; it is marriage. She married jockey Ben Melham, and race cards began listing her as J. Melham.
When did Jamie Kah change her name?
She married Ben Melham in January 2025, according to Reuters, and began using Melham as her race-name immediately.
The following table sorts out the core facts.
| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jamie Lee Melham (née Kah) | Nine |
| Born | 1995 | Nine |
| Marital status | Married to Ben Melham, a jockey | Nine |
| Name on race cards | Jamie Melham / J Melham | Nine |
| Career wins | 1,388 | Nine |
| Career starts | 7,967 | Nine |
| Win percentage | 17.4% | Nine |
| Melbourne Cup win | 2025, on Half Yours | RNZ |
| Historic double | Caulfield-Melbourne Cups double, a first for a female jockey | RNZ |
The upshot: the name switch is a marriage, not a mystery — and the name on the race card will keep changing for the same person.
What is Jamie Kah doing now?
Jamie Kah is now riding under her married name Jamie Melham. She continues to compete in Australian and international races, with a full riding schedule according to Nine. She married fellow jockey Ben Melham in 2025 and won the Melbourne Cup that year.
Did Jamie Kah really win the 2025 Melbourne Cup?
Yes. New Zealand public broadcaster RNZ’s headline put it plainly: “Half Yours wins 2025 Melbourne Cup.” Nine’s coverage named the winning jockey as Jamie Melham. UK newspaper The Telegraph also used the Melham surname in its report.
- 1995 — Born; Nine’s profile identifies her as Jamie Lee Melham, née Kah. Nine
- 2025 — Marries Ben Melham and begins using the surname Melham. Reuters
- 4 November 2025 — Wins the Melbourne Cup on Half Yours. RNZ
- 2025 — Completes the Caulfield-Melbourne Cups double, reported by RNZ as a first for a female jockey. RNZ
The upshot: yes, she won it. The victory was real; the name on the trophy just looked different.
Why is Jamie Kah not riding today?
She probably is riding. Race cards now list her under her married name, so searching for “Jamie Kah” can make her look absent even when she is in the jockey’s room. The better search term is “Melham.”
Nine’s post-Cup reporting describes her as an active jockey with a full riding schedule. The “not riding today” searches are the clearest sign of how quickly fans attach to a former surname. It is not that Kah has disappeared; it is that her official name has changed.
The better question: “Which name is on the race card?” For Jamie Lee Melham, the answer is usually the one you are not searching for.
What made the 2025 Melbourne Cup historic?
RNZ reported that the win gave Melham the Caulfield-Melbourne Cups double. According to RNZ, it was the first time a female jockey had completed that particular double. Nine added another layer: the 2025 Cup was also the first time a married couple raced against each other in the event.
That combination — a career-first victory, a women’s racing milestone, and a family-vs-family subplot — is why the 2025 race will be remembered long after the betting markets move on.
Why it matters: the 2025 Cup was both a debut win and a small piece of racing history.
What about Jamie Kah’s net worth, height and weight?
- Net worth: no verified dollar figure appears in the reporting reviewed for this story. Coverage tends to link her earnings to prize money and sponsorship.
- Height: her exact height is not listed in the major public profiles reviewed for this article.
- Race weight: jockeys manage their weight for each meeting, and Melham’s current race weight is not a permanent public number.
The takeaway: do not confuse a missing figure with a real story. For jockeys, what matters is the race-day card.
What the reporting says
Melbourne Cup 2025 winner: Everything to know about jockey Jamie Melham
— Australian broadcaster Nine
Half Yours wins 2025 Melbourne Cup
— New Zealand public broadcaster RNZ
The pattern: every major headline used the married name, which explains why “Jamie Kah” searches stopped showing the win.
online.flippingbook.com, en.wikipedia.org, nine.com.au, coastcurrent.net, adelaideaz.com, aussiebrief.org, rnz.co.nz, en.wikipedia.org, 1news.co.nz, reuters.com
Frequently asked questions
Is Jamie Kah still riding?
Yes. She now rides as Jamie Melham. Race cards list her as J Melham or Jamie Melham.
Why does the race card say “J Melham”?
Because she married jockey Ben Melham and now competes under her married name. “Jamie Kah” is her maiden name.
Did Jamie Kah win the 2025 Melbourne Cup?
Yes. She won the 2025 Melbourne Cup on Half Yours, and was reported by RNZ under the name Jamie Melham.
What was historic about the win?
RNZ reported that the win completed a Caulfield-Melbourne Cups double, a first for a female jockey. Nine also noted the race was the first time a married couple raced against each other.
Is the “Jamie Kah not riding today” rumour true?
No official statement confirms a reason for a specific day off. Nine’s reporting describes Kah, now Melham, as an active jockey with a full racing schedule.
Final check: if you search “Jamie Kah” on a race day and do not see her, look for “Melham.” She is probably already at the races.
More related posts
Aus Retirement: How Much Super Do You Really Need
Black Friday Australia – 2024 Dates, Deals, Stores Guide
MC Hammer: Rap Star to Bankruptcy and Tech Investor
Best Coffee Near Me: Top Drogheda & Mullingar Cafés
Amy Jackson Biography: Career, Husband, and Family
Marlon Williams: Māori Heritage, Retirement, and Music Career
Matt Smith: Biography, Relationships, Net Worth, and More
Niko Omilana: Height, Age, Net Worth, Ethnicity & Politics
