Soon after leaving the force in 1946, he participated in numerous horse races in Britain. Horse Racing Achievements Horse racing was his first passion before he decided to become a writer. He eventually died a natural death on 14 February of 2010 at his Caribbean abode leaving behind his two sons. The following year, he lost his right leg due to his failing heart. Later in 2006 Dick Francis also started having health problems, heart had developed some complications which necessitated him to undergo a heart bypass in that year. His wife succumbed to a heart attack in 2000 at their home in Cayman Islands. In most interviews, the two disclosed that theirs was the proverbial love at first sight, something the author replicated in some of his characters such as in the Flying Finish novel, knockdown and the Edge. They were blessed with two sons, Merrick and Felix in 1953. They tied the knot in 1947 despite encountering objections from relatives on both sides. Dick Francis was married to his late wife Margaret Brenchley whom he had met in October of 1945 at a cousin’s nuptials. Most of the air travels in his six years of military work took place in distant continents, mostly Africa. He worked with the fighter and bomber aircrafts such as the Hurricane. He dropped out of school at fifteen years intending to become a jockey like his father and ended up becoming an instructor in 1938.Īt the onset of the World War II, being young and energetic he enlisted in the military where he served as a crew and later a pilot in the Royal Air Force. His father was a jockey and was also employed to manage a stable at a firm in Berkshire, England. Dick Francis was just his pen name which he had chosen to use because it is more memorable. Over forty of his crime books had topped different international booklists due to his exceptional story telling abilities.īorn Richard Stanley Francis on 31st October 1920 in Coedcanlas, Pembroke, in Wales. Every book had a central character who was narrating the story which enables writers to see life through his eyes. He had a penchant for weaving intriguing stories which revolved around crime that took place among horse riding communities. This internationally acclaimed writer had published numerous novels in his lifetime which resonated well with horse riding lovers all over the world.

Used Very Good (1 available) Used book that is in excellent condition.Dick Francis was a famous British steeple chase jockey and author of crime novels.

To the Hilt by Dick Francis