Jamie Melham headlines star-studded Off The Track Carnival Celebrity Challenge

Reigning Lexus Melbourne Cup and Sportsbet Caulfield Cup-winning jockey Jamie Melham will swap the racetrack for the arena at Boneo Park, leading a star-studded line-up for the Celebrity Show Jumping Challenge at the 2026 Racing Victoria Off The Track Carnival.

Jamie, who made history aboard Half Yours in 2025 as the first female jockey to complete the coveted Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup double, will headline the Jockey Team when some of Australian racing and equestrian sport’s most accomplished horse people go head-to-head on Sunday, 13 September.

Proudly supported by MRC Foundation, the Celebrity Show Jumping Challenge brings together nine leading riders across three teams - Jockeys, Equestrians and Trainers. With an Olympian, World Cup showjumpers, a Group 1-winning trainer and elite eventers also among the line-up, the Challenge promises to be an action-packed celebration of incredible horsemanship, healthy competition and the versatility of the Off The Track thoroughbred.

TEAM JOCKEYS

• Jamie Melham - Reigning Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup-winning jockey and one of Australia’s leading riders, Jamie made history aboard Half Yours as the first female jockey to complete the famous Cups double and is a passionate supporter of thoroughbreds beyond racing.
• Celine Gaudray - Talented Victorian jockey and former champion apprentice, Celine is a skilled horsewoman with a genuine love of thoroughbreds and the opportunities available to them off the track.
• Daniel Stackhouse - Accomplished Victorian jockey, Daniel came through showjumping before forging his career in racing, bringing a lifetime of horsemanship and appreciation for the versatility of the thoroughbred.

TEAM EQUESTRIANS

• Amanda Ross - Respected Australian Olympian, elite eventer, World Cup showjumper and coach, Amanda has ridden Off The Track thoroughbreds throughout her career, taking them to the highest level of the sport. Amanda is also a passionate Racing Victoria OTT Ambassador and works as part of the Boneo Park team.
• Steven Hill - Accomplished Australian World Cup showjumper, coach and highly regarded horseman, Steven is a passionate supporter of Off The Track thoroughbreds and Racing Victoria’s OTT Program through its subsidised education clinics.
• Demi McEvoy - Experienced equestrian and passionate thoroughbred advocate, Demi combines her strong racing family connections with a love of retraining and competing Off The Track thoroughbreds, including Sweepero, who she will compete aboard at this year’s Carnival. 

TEAM TRAINERS

• Matt Laurie - Group 1-winning Mornington trainer and accomplished horseman, Matt came through pony club and eventing before building his career in racing and remains passionate about the thoroughbred beyond racing.
• Lucy Yeomans - Cranbourne-based trainer and accomplished horsewoman, Lucy competed to four-star eventing level and was an Australian team reserve before forging her career in racing, with a lifelong love of thoroughbreds connecting both worlds.
• Charlotte Littlefield - Victorian racehorse trainer and former British eventer who represented Great Britain at European Championship level, Charlotte recently returned to the saddle for the 2026 Magnolia Cup at Glorious Goodwood (UK) and is passionate about showcasing the versatility of the thoroughbred.

The Celebrity Show Jumping Challenge is a feature of the second edition of the Racing Victoria Off The Track Carnival, which will welcome 500 retired racehorses to Boneo Park Equestrian Centre, one of Australia’s premier equestrian venues, on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.

Places for this year’s Off The Track Carnival were fully subscribed within hours, with more than $260,000 in prizemoney on offer across 23 championship classes spanning Dressage, Combined Training, Show Horse and Show Jumping.

Quotes attributed to Racing Victoria General Manager – Equine Welfare, Melissa Ware:

“The Celebrity Show Jumping Challenge was one of the highlights of last year’s inaugural Carnival, so we’re delighted to welcome another outstanding group of jockeys, trainers and equestrians this year, and incredibly grateful to each of them for getting behind the event and our Off The Track thoroughbreds.

“Creating and supporting opportunities for thoroughbreds beyond racing is fundamental to Racing Victoria’s commitment to equine welfare, and the Carnival provides a fantastic platform to showcase their versatility, trainability and ability to thrive in their second careers.

“With 500 places filled within hours, the response to this year’s Carnival has been extraordinary and reinforces Racing Victoria’s commitment to supporting Off The Track thoroughbreds, both now and into the future.”

Quotes attributed to Boneo Park Chief Executive Officer, Greta Cooper:

“We are incredibly excited to welcome such a talented group of riders to Boneo Park and very grateful to them for giving their time to the Celebrity Show Jumping Challenge. Having horse people of this calibre come together to showcase Off The Track thoroughbreds is incredibly special for our equestrian community.

“There will certainly be some healthy competition between the jockeys, trainers and equestrians, and if it is anything like last year, it will also be a huge amount of fun.

“We are grateful to MRC Foundation for supporting the Celebrity Show Jumping and helping us bring this fantastic line-up together.”

The Racing Victoria Off The Track Carnival, hosted by Boneo Park, will be held from 11–13 September 2026 having expanded from two days in its inaugural year to three this year due to the huge interest from equestrian riders.

The Carnival is free for the public to attend, with the Celebrity Show Jumping Challenge taking place on Sunday, 13 September.

For those looking to elevate their Carnival experience, tickets are on sale now for Boneo Park’s special Sunday VIP event, hosted by Jacqui Felgate and featuring Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne as special guest speaker. Guests will enjoy premium hospitality and a front-row experience to one of the biggest days of the Carnival.

For more information and to purchase VIP tickets, visit boneopark.com.au