Biographie
Dick Francis began riding at the age of five, starting on a donkey. His older brother promised him sixpence if he could jump a fence while sitting backwards on the donkey. After five attempts, the determined child succeeded in staying on as the donkey cleared the fence. He earned his first riding fee by collecting the sixpence from his brother. Reflecting on that moment, he said, "In my heart, from that moment, I became a professional horseman." At 26, he took up amateur steeplechase riding, and two years later turned professional. Over his career, he won more than 350 races and was the retained jockey for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother for four seasons. One of his most famous and controversial rides was aboard the Queen Mother's horse, Devon Loch, during the 1956 Grand National. Just 50 yards from the finish line and seemingly certain to win, the horse suddenly collapsed. Despite investigations, no cause was ever found, leaving the incident a lasting mystery. At 36, Francis retired from jockeying and became a racing correspondent for the Sunday Express. In 1957, he published his autobiography, "The Sport of Queens," followed by his first mystery novel, "Dead Cert," in 1962. Since then, he has averaged one mystery novel per year, much to the delight of his fans. His stories, rooted in his deep knowledge of racing and horses, go beyond simple "horse stories," featuring protagonists from diverse professions such as actors, artists, photographers, bankers, contractors, wine merchants, inventors, diplomats, teachers, pilots, and meteorologists. In his autobiography, Francis mused that he might be remembered as "the man who didn't win the National," but to fans worldwide, he remains the definitive Master of Mystery.
