[12] Her uncle, David Greaves, was a professional rider, winning the Mackeson (now Paddy Power) Gold Cup in 1975.
She subsequently joined the Pony Club and moved through the gymkhana circuit, showjumping and hunter trials.
[16] In 1991 she was engaged to fellow jockey apprentice, Gary Hind,[17] but married trainer, David 'Dandy' Nicholls (1956-2017) in April 1994, at Northallerton.
"[20] In her first year she rode 41 winners, including 17 on the turf, which earned her the 1990 Ladies Professional Championship Trophy.
No official reason was given, but it coincided with Greaves' engagement to former jockey, David "Dandy" Nicholls, who she had met at Barron's stables.
[30] In an interview with the Sunday Times, Greaves said "We [female jockeys] are regarded as novelties... And there is an awful lot of hypocrisy, too.
In 1991, after winning the Lincoln Handicap, she hoped that "her performance to beat 24 male rivals should finally bury that condescending title "Queen of Southwell",[58] but acknowledged that even after this victory some would still use "that silly nickname", adding "I don't know what I have to do to lose it.
Greaves also struggled with her weight, saying "I rode nine lots of work the other day in a sweatsuit, then got on the treadmill, had a swim and lost only half a pound.
"[60] After retiring, Greaves worked alongside Nicholls in their training establishment[60] in Sessay, Thirsk.