Valerie Greaves

For the British hedge layer, see Valerie Greaves (hedge layer).

Valerie Greaves
Occupation	Jockey, trainer
Born	1945 Northallerton, England
Died	2015
Children	2

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. She was also the first woman to beat professional jockeys over jumps. Her daughter, Alex Greaves became a professional jockey and was the first woman to race in the Epsom Derby, in 1996.

Personal life

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

Career

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

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. 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. 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. (Three months after Greaves' win, Jenny Hembrow won on Jim Hardy at Newton Abbot Racecourse). Greaves was still riding in 1987.

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.