Alex Greaves
Alex Greaves
Alex Greaves
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Alex Greaves became the first female apprentice to ride out her claim and made history as the first woman to partner a Group One winner and the first to ride in the Epsom Derby.
Alex Greaves became the first female apprentice to ride out her claim and made history as the first woman to partner a Group One winner and the first to ride in the Epsom Derby.
Alex Ann Greaves was born in Northallerton on April 14, 1968. Her father, a farmer, rode hunters, while her mother, Valerie, had entered racing straight from school and herself earned a place in racing’s history books when, on Silver Gal at Hexham on May 4, 1976, she became the first lady rider to win against professionals under National Hunt rules. Furthermore, Alex’s uncle, David Greaves, rode professionally in the 1970s and scored his most important victory on Maurice Camacho’s Clear Cut in the 1973 Mackeson Gold Cup.
Alex Ann Greaves was born in Northallerton on April 14, 1968. Her father, a farmer, rode hunters, while her mother, Valerie, had entered racing straight from school and herself earned a place in racing’s history books when, on Silver Gal at Hexham on May 4, 1976, she became the first lady rider to win against professionals under National Hunt rules. Furthermore, Alex’s uncle, David Greaves, rode professionally in the 1970s and scored his most important victory on Maurice Camacho’s Clear Cut in the 1973 Mackeson Gold Cup.
It was therefore no surprise that Alex found herself perched on a horse almost before she could walk. She graduated into racing via the pony club, working hunter ponies and show jumping circuits. There she came across future jump jockeys Jamie Osborne and Nick Smith, both of whom emanated from the same area.
It was therefore no surprise that Alex found herself perched on a horse almost before she could walk. She graduated into racing via the pony club, working hunter ponies and show jumping circuits. There she came across future jump jockeys Jamie Osborne and Nick Smith, both of whom emanated from the same area.
After leaving school, Alex embarked on a three-year catering diploma course at Leeds Polytechnic. The course centred around hotel management, which was a far cry from racing but her mother insisted she did it so that she might have something to fall back on in the event of things not working out in racing. During the summer breaks from college, Alex had a few rides for David Barron – for whom Val Greaves was assistant trainer – in amateur riders’ Flat races, though without success.
After leaving school, Alex embarked on a three-year catering diploma course at Leeds Polytechnic. The course centred around hotel management, which was a far cry from racing but her mother insisted she did it so that she might have something to fall back on in the event of things not working out in racing. During the summer breaks from college, Alex had a few rides for David Barron – for whom Val Greaves was assistant trainer – in amateur riders’ Flat races, though without success.
The three years at Leeds Polytechnic meant that she started later than most as an apprentice. Furthermore, her weight had shot up to nine stone, largely due to the excesses of college life. However, she found it relatively easy to shed the excess pounds once she began working in racing full time.
The three years at Leeds Polytechnic meant that she started later than most as an apprentice. Furthermore, her weight had shot up to nine stone, largely due to the excesses of college life. However, she found it relatively easy to shed the excess pounds once she began working in racing full time.
Having turned professional, she had a few rides at the end of the 1989 Flat season and rode her first winner on the all-weather at Southwell on the first day of December. Four more followed before the year was out and the new jockey was on her way.
Having turned professional, she had a few rides at the end of the 1989 Flat season and rode her first winner on the all-weather at Southwell on the first day of December. Four more followed before the year was out and the new jockey was on her way.
The winners came with regularity during the first three months of 1990, for David Barron’s yard housed a number of horses capable of running up sequences on the all-weather surfaces. Orchard Court led the way with six wins. Another multiple scorer was Bronze Cross, while she also won four times on Irish Passage. Before Doncaster opened the 1990 turf season, Alex had rattled up a total of 18 winners on the all-weather and earned the PR-friendly epithet “Queen of the Sands” from racing scribes.
The winners came with regularity during the first three months of 1990, for David Barron’s yard housed a number of horses capable of running up sequences on the all-weather surfaces. Orchard Court led the way with six wins. Another multiple scorer was Bronze Cross, while she also won four times on Irish Passage. Before Doncaster opened the 1990 turf season, Alex had rattled up a total of 18 winners on the all-weather and earned the PR-friendly epithet “Queen of the Sands” from racing scribes.
There were some who thought her early success just a whim of the all-weather and that that would be the last they saw of Alex Greaves once ‘proper’ racing was back and the top jockeys had returned. But that’s not how it worked out. She soon scored her first turf victory on Joe Bumpas at Catterick on March 28 and carried on from there.
There were some who thought her early success just a whim of the all-weather and that that would be the last they saw of Alex Greaves once ‘proper’ racing was back and the top jockeys had returned. But that’s not how it worked out. She soon scored her first turf victory on Joe Bumpas at Catterick on March 28 and carried on from there.
Twelve months later she achieved her first big race success when winning the 1991 Lincoln Handicap on 22/1 chance Amenable, trained by David Barron. She also won that year’s Great St Wilfrid Handicap on Premier Touch.
Twelve months later she achieved her first big race success when winning the 1991 Lincoln Handicap on 22/1 chance Amenable, trained by David Barron. She also won that year’s Great St Wilfrid Handicap on Premier Touch.
In 1996, she became the first woman to ride in the Derby when partnering 500/1 outsider Portuguese Lil, trainer by her husband David Nicholls, finishing last.
In 1996, she became the first woman to ride in the Derby when partnering 500/1 outsider Portuguese Lil, trainer by her husband David Nicholls, finishing last.
In 1997, she became the first woman to ride a Group One winner in Britain when Ya Malak dead-heated with Coastal Bluff in the 1997 Nunthorpe Stakes.
In 1997, she became the first woman to ride a Group One winner in Britain when Ya Malak dead-heated with Coastal Bluff in the 1997 Nunthorpe Stakes.
Alex announced her retirement from the saddle in March 2005 at the age of 36, ending a career during which she had ridden around 300 winners.
Alex announced her retirement from the saddle in March 2005 at the age of 36, ending a career during which she had ridden around 300 winners.
Big winners
Big winners
1991: Lincoln Handicap – Amenable
1991: Lincoln Handicap – Amenable
1991: Great St Wilfrid Handicap – Premier Touch
1991: Great St Wilfrid Handicap – Premier Touch
1997: Nunthorpe Stakes – Ya Malak (dead-heat)
1997: Nunthorpe Stakes – Ya Malak (dead-heat)