EXCLUSIVE: VRC reaches confidential settlement with Gerald Ryan sexual abuse accuser Jamie Evans

A confidentiality agreement underpins the Victoria Racing Club’s settlement of legal action brought by former jockey Jamie Evans, who has also accused trainer Gerald Ryan of sexual abuse.

Former jockey Jamie Evans. Picture: David Caird.

The Victoria Racing Club has reached a confidential settlement with former jockey Jamie Evans over historical abuse claims in the racing industry.

The VRC, hosts of the Melbourne Cup, were responsible for conducting thoroughbred racing in Victoria until 2001.

They were being sued by Evans as part of a broader civil claim, which involves a separate sexual abuse allegation made by Evans against Group 1 winning Sydney trainer Gerald Ryan.

Evans had claimed the VRC was negligent by not exercising a duty of care to prevent him being injured when he alleged he was subjected to endure degrading initiation rituals as an apprentice jockey in the 1980s.

Evans had alleged he had a “carrot inserted into my anus” as part of one horrific initiation ritual in a Victorian stable in the 1980s by three stable staff whose names he could not recall.

Former jumps jockey Jamie Evans. Picture: David Caird

It was also alleged by Evans that, in a separate incident, the same three men removed his pants and smeared hoof grease over his genitals and buttocks.

Evans had been engaged in court-ordered mediation with the VRC, but the matter is now resolved.

“The matter involving VRC has settled and VRC does not consider it appropriate to comment further,” a VRC spokesperson told Racenet.

Evans and the VRC are understood to be bound by a confidentiality agreement regarding the settlement details.

Contacted by Racenet, Evans said: “I’m happy that the matter with the Victoria Racing Club is now at its end and hasn’t dragged on any further.

“I’m now looking forward to my day in court regarding the Gerald Ryan matter.”

It is understood that mediation has failed to resolve the civil matter involving Ryan and it is headed for a Victorian Supreme Court civil trial starting on April 1.

Evans is suing Ryan, alleging that in the 1980s he was headbutted by a horse and fell asleep in a car, waking to discover Ryan performing a sex act on him.

Gerald Ryan. Picture: Getty Images.

Ryan was a jockey at the time but has for the past three decades been one of Australia’s top racehorse trainers, with 25 Group 1 wins as a trainer.

Ryan has previously denied the allegations and when police investigated in 2009, no charges were laid.

When contacted by Racenet recently, Ryan said: “I can’t (comment) … I’m not allowed to.”

Evans’ lawyer John Rule said he could not comment on any details of the VRC settlement.

“I can’t comment, other than to say the matter regarding Mr Ryan is still proceeding on April 1,” Rule said.

Originally published as EXCLUSIVE: VRC reaches confidential settlement with Gerald Ryan sexual abuse accuser Jamie Evans