Dick Francis: former champion jockey and bestselling author died aged 89
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker/racingpostpix.comLegendary jockey and author Dick Francis dies
FRIENDS and family of Dick Francis on Sunday celebrated the life of "an extraordinary man" as the legendary jockey and best-selling novelist died at the age of 89.
Crowned champion jockey in 1954, Francis was one of the most successful post-war jump jockeys, with a tally of over 350 triumphs to his name and was famously aboard the Queen Mother's Devon Loch in the 1956 Grand National when he collapsed yards from the line and well clear of the field.
Sir Peter O'Sullevan was commentating at Aintree that day and recalled the incident, what little he saw from the 12th and 28th fence.
"I saw hiscap go down and the shouting told me that something dramatic had happened," he said. "He took it very hard, much harder than the owner. She was very philosophical about the whole thing and said simply that's racing.
The moment Devon Loch collapsed
"Dick blamed himself for an incident with a horse he rode for me too. Itwas August 1951 and he fell at the fifth. The horse hit the fence three inches from the bottom and bulldozed his way though it, there was no way the partnership could have remained intact. I think it was purely because of his impeccable manners that Dicksaid it was his fault.
"We've been friends ever since and, put simply, he was a kind, gentle person with a considerable gift for riding and writing."
Upon retiring from the saddle in 1957, Francis took uphis new vocation as a novelist beginning with his autobiography - entitled The Sport of Queens - and going on to become the author of 42 novels and a volume of short stories.
He was acclaimed as one of the greatest thriller writers inthe world. His most recent novel, Even Money, written with his younger son, Felix, was published in September 2009.
Based in the Cayman Islands to help his beloved wife Mary's with her breathing problems, Francis reportedly died from old age at his home.
Mary, to whom he was married for 53 years, died in 2000 and Francis is survived by five grandsons, one great grandson and his two sons, Felix and Merrick, who described themselves as "devastated".
"My brother, Merrick, and I are, of course devastated by the loss of our father, but we rejoice in having been the sons of such an extraordinary man," said Felix. "We share in the joy that he brought to so many over such a long life. It is an honour for me to be able to continue his remarkable legacy through the new novels."
Before becoming a jockey, Francis had a distinguished military career joining the RAF in 1940, wherehe was initially stationed in the Egyptian desert before being commissioned as a pilot in 1943, flying Spitfires, Wellingtons and then Lancasters.
He was appointed OBE (1984) and CBE (2000).
There will be a small funeral at his home in Grand Cayman, followed by a memorial service in London.
A full obituary by John Randall will appear in Monday's Racing Post - buy the PDF newspaper online from 9am
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