Bestselling author Dick Francis died on February 14, 2010, at the age of 89.
Known for his thoroughbred racing-inspired mystery/suspense novels, Francis’s first career was as a champion steeplechase jockey in England. In one infamous race, he was leading the 1956 Grand National on Devon Loch, the Queen Mother’s horse, when its legs suddenly buckled and it skidded to a stop after clearing the final fence. Francis had a distinguished military career in the RAF, culminating in being commissioned as a pilot in 1943.
Francis retired from racing in 1957 and published his autobiography, The Sport of Queens. Five years later he began penning popular thrillers, starting with Dead Cert. In all, he wrote 40 bestsellers, a book of short stories and Lester Piggott’s biography. He won the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Allen Poe award three times and the Crime Writers’ Association Cartier Diamond Dagger for outstanding contribution to the genre.
Francis was married to his wife, Mary, for 53 years until her death in 2000. He is survived by two sons, Merrick and Felix (with whom Francis wrote his last four novels), five grandchildren and one great-grandson. A private funeral was held at his home in the Cayman Islands; a memorial service in London is being planned.
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