Dick Francis – Steeplechase jockey and crime writer

Who is Dick Francis?

Richard Stanley Francis was a British author born 31 October 1920 and who passed away on 14 February 2010.  You cannot miss the fact that these are 2 significant American celebration days namely Halloween and then Valentine’s Day.

Francis was the son of a jockey and stable manager and grew up in Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. He left school at 15, intending to become a jockey.

World War II

Francis served in the  Royal Air Force during the war.  Initially as a member of ground crew and later piloting fighter and bomber aircraft.  He served for six years and spent most of this time assigned in Africa.

Was Dick Francis Married?

After the war, at the age of 25 in 1945, he met Mary Margaret Brenchley (17 June 1924 – 30 September 2000), his wife. The couple married in June 1947 in London. Brenchley had a degree in English and French from London University , was an assistant stage manager, and later worked as a publisher’s reader. She also became a pilot. They had two sons, Merrick and Felix. Felix subsequently also became a crime writer.

The couple moved to  Florida in the United States in 1980’s and later to Cayman Islands.  It was here that his wife died of a heart attack in 2000.  Francis died of natural causes 4 years later, 14 February 2010.

Dick Francis’s Horse Racing Career

After the war in 1946, Francis became a successful jockey.  He was a celebrity in the British National Hunt racing.  He became  champion jockey in the 1953–54 season after winning 350 races.

It was during this time that Frances was jokey  Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.  He kept this position from 1953 to 1957.  He rode the Queen Mother’s horse, Devon Loch, in the 1956 Grand National.  Sadly this race ended badly and Francis considered his greatest loss.

His career ended in 1957, after he suffered another fall and was advised by  Lord Abergavenny, the Queen Mother’s advisor to retire from racing for her.

What did Dick Francis write about?

Most of his novels deal with the crime in the horse-racing world.  His stories are narrated by the main characters who face great obstacles and often include physical injury.

Francis published his first book in 1957 – The Sport of Queens. The success of this novel led to him becoming a racing correspondent for London’s Sunday Express newspaper.  He maintained this position for 16 years.

Although most of the novels revolve around horse racing, he writes mainly thrillers with this theme.  His first thriller was  Dead Cert published in 1962.  His niche market of horse racing resulted in him producing a book a year for 38 years.

Francis wrote mostly stand-alone books and throughout his career, he produced 40 international best-sellers.

Dick Francis books available on Bakgat Books:

In The Frame

Break In

Trial Run

Forfeit

Smokescreen

Flying Finish

Nerve

Bonecrack

The Kicks

Decider

Second Wind

Wild Horses

Silks

Dead Heat

Straight

 Main Reference:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Francis