Valerie Greaves

Last updated

Valerie Greaves
Occupation Jockey, trainer
Born1945
Northallerton, England
Died2015
Children2

Valerie Greaves (1945-2015), known as Val, was an English horsewoman. In May 1976 she became the first amateur woman to "beat professionals under Rules" at Hexham Racecourse. [1] [2] She was also the first woman to beat professional jockeys over jumps. [3] Her daughter, Alex Greaves became a professional jockey and was the first woman to race in the Epsom Derby, in 1996. [4]

Contents

Personal life

Valerie was born in Northallerton, England. She married farmer Ernest Greaves, who was a British Show Pony Society judge. [5] They had two children, including Alex, who went on to become a record-breaking flat racer. [6] Greaves' brother-in-law was jockey David Greaves, who won the Mackeson (now Paddy Power) Gold Cup in 1975. [7]

Career

Greaves was Barron's 'head lad' [8] at his stables in Maunby, Thirsk, Yorkshire, from the 1970s for nearly 40 years. [9]

On 14 February 1967, Greaves became the first woman to race against male professional jockeys, and the first to ride over hurdles, at Catterick Racecourse. [10] In May 1976, she became the first amateur woman to beat professional jockeys over jumps when she rode Silver Gal, trained by Barron, to win the Yarridge Novices Hurdle (Division Two) at Hexham Racecourse. [11] In the same race were professional jockeys including Paddy Broderick and Colin Tinkler. Prior to this, all wins by female jockeys in England had been against amateurs, in both flat and jumps. [12] (Three months after Greaves' win, Jenny Hembrow won on Jim Hardy at Newton Abbot Racecourse). [13] Greaves was still riding in 1987. [14]

In May 2004, the charity Racing Welfare paid tribute to Greaves by holding the "Val Greaves – a lifetime in racing – Maiden Stakes", run over one and half miles at York Racecourse. [15] [16]

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References

  1. ↑ Woldsman (31 December 1976). "Go racing with Woldsman". Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian. Lincoln, UK. p. 22.
  2. ↑ "Valerie 'rules' over men". Belfast News Letter. Belfast, UK. 5 May 1976. p. 13.
  3. ↑ "Women in racing through time". womeninracing.co.uk. 5 September 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  4. ↑ "On the right track". Aberdeen Evening Express. Aberdeen, UK. 7 June 1996. p. 59.
  5. ↑ Jo Davison (10 August 1993). "No easy ride". Hull Daily Mail. Hull, UK. p. 17.
  6. ↑ "Valerie 'rules' over men". Belfast News Letter. Belfast, UK. 5 May 1976. p. 13.
  7. ↑ "Racing trailblazers: Alex Greaves". horseracinghof.com. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  8. ↑ "Perth". Bristol Evening Post. Bristol, UK. 13 April 1976. p. 12.
  9. ↑ "People obituaries". Owner & Breeder. London: Michael Harris. October 2015. p. 18.
  10. ↑ Allison Graham (7 May 2022). "Karen Wiltshire: The UK's first professional woman jockey to win on the flat". eclipsemagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  11. ↑ Lewis Porteous (7 May 2022). "'The worst thing was the ridicule' – how women fought to change racing forever". racingpost.com. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  12. ↑ "Valerie 'rules' over men". Belfast News Letter. Belfast, UK. 5 May 1976. p. 13.
  13. ↑ "Jeffrey's big hope". Western Daily Press. Cardiff, UK. 21 March 1985. p. 37.
  14. ↑ "Haydock". Liverpool Daily Post. Liverpool, UK. 2 May 1987. p. 28.
  15. ↑ "Saluting racing's unsung heroes". yorkpress.co.uk. 27 May 2004. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  16. ↑ "15:50 York". skysports.com. 28 May 2004. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
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