Sexual abuse victim, former jockey Dennis Green, seeks justice four decades on

A sexual abuse survivor has spoken out about the horror he endured at a Melbourne racing stable more than 40 years ago.

Dennis Green is fighting for justice four decades on. Picture: Toby Zerna

A victim of sexual abuse at a top racing stable is looking for justice four decades on.

Former jockey and trackwork rider Dennis Green joined the Caulfield team of Geoff Murphy at age 14, staying from 1974 to 1979.

Mr Green told the Herald Sun he was subjected to sexual abuse and cruel initiation practises by older staff, allegations which ultimately sparked a police investigation in the early 2000s.

Two men were eventually convicted over the abuse against Mr Green.

Mr Green said the legacy of life in the “rat-infested dorm” where cannabis, LSD and sedative use was commonplace, was a lifetime of torment.

Maurice Blackburn lawyer John Rule believed others would have been abused in the same period.

“I went to the stables a devout Roman Catholic boy. A lot of the damage was done by shame,” Mr Green said.

“It was a generational thing. The people who were doing it, it was done to them.”

Mr Green said among those entrusted to live and work with him were criminals recently released from prison.

He admits to eventually doing years in jail for drug crimes when his life unravelled in the wake of the abuse.

“I probably should have died. I started using heroin. I was rock bottom,” he said

“I went crazy for three decades after this.”

Mr Green said his start in the industry with Terry Millard’s Kilmore stable, where he worked with champion Baghdad Note, was happy enough.

Racehorse Baghdad Note, shown skimming over a mile in 1 minute, 50 seconds at Flemington Racecourse.

And there were bright times at the Murphy stable, like riding Melbourne Cup-winner Hyperno in some early career starts.

But Mr Green, who has been clean of drugs for years, said he was effectively abandoned at a young age into the hands of people who were monitored in no way by the industry.

John Rule, a senior associate at law firm Maurice Blackburn, believed others would have been abused in the same period.

Mr Rule said the company was in the “investigation phase” of the extent of its action against racing authorities over what happened to Mr Green.

Originally published as Sexual abuse victim, former jockey Dennis Green, seeks justice four decades on