European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 27, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Books a jockey ick Francis ides High with second career by Allan r. Bruce United press International Dick Francis thinks of himself As the jockey who lost one of Britain s most prestigious races the grand National. He Hopes others think of him for More recent accomplishments the Best Sellers that pour from his pen. Francis gave up the sport of Kings 29 years ago after reigning As one of his Homeland s top jockeys Riding horses for among others England s Queen Mother. Since that Day in january 1957 when Francis called it quits he has become a prolific writer penning an autobiography 25 novels and just recently a biography of his Good Friend famed English jockey Lester Piggott. But horseracing is still in his blood. Francis works All draw heavily on his experience at the track and the track people he has known. I missed race Riding terribly when i gave it up and i suppose i never really got Over it Francis said in his elegant Oceanside condominium in fort Lauderdale Fla. I be kept my hand in it to some extent he said. For years i be judged horse shows in South Africa Canada and Britain. That keeps you into it because of course you have to ride the horses during the shows. Now i m 65 and i suppose i la be cutting that Back a ironically despite All the wins that made him a Champion jockey it is an embarrassing loss that Sticks out most in Francis mind. It was the 1956 grand National Francis said a sheepish Grin spreading across his face. I was Riding Devon Loch for the Queen Mother Francis said. We were 10 lengths in front and the horse collapsed 25 Yards from the winning Post. There were a Quarter of a million people there and All were cheering for the Queen Francis said the horse apparently suffered some sort of stage fright. We were galloping toward the winning Post and i could see that the Roar of the crowd affected him Francis said. He just pricked up his ears and Down he undaunted Francis Rode Devon Loch again a few months later and the horse won. But the jockey turned writer is reminded of his fall year after year. Every year when the grand National comes on they Flash it on the television screens Francis said. I m known As the Chap who did not win the grand Francis admits that his stature As a Champion jockey More important As the Queen Mother s jockey helped vault him into literary stardom. I was quite a notable jockey and Champion jockey and the Media All jumped onto it and i was interviewed when i announced that i was retiring Francis said. He was in the Middle of his autobiography sport of Queens at the time and a publisher snatched it up. The sports editor of Britain s sunday express invited him to write a half dozen articles for the newspaper. That went on to 16 years employment Francis said. Francis Felt it was a Good Job though not quite so lucrative As four years into his newspaper career Francis turned to fiction. I had two children to educate and a carpet that was wearing out so i wrote dead Cert and Dick Francis Rode the horses from the stable of Britain s Queen Mother. Submitted it to the publishers Francis said. When they published my autobiography they contracted for first refusal on any other books i might write. They looked at dead Cert and said they would publish it straight away Francis said. That was in the Spring of 1964. In 1965 they came to me and said we want two this year i said Don t be silly. I m Busy doing newspaper articles but i wrote two in 65 for kicks and Odds since then he s been writing one novel each year spending August through november on research and starting his writing in january. Francis and his wife Mary moved to fort Lauderdale about six years ago and spend much of their time in Florida. Mary had polio when she was younger and it made her lungs bad. Britain is very cold in the Winter Francis said. I be got a visa for two years now so we re going to stay Here As much As possible. We Hope to spend More time Here and less in Britain because Mary is so much better Mary helps Francis with his books particularly in research. We even spent 42 straight hours on a bus together researching one Book Francis said. I was writing blood sport about a classic Winner who was shipped to America and was hijacked and taken to the Rockies Francis said. I wanted to get the flavor of the american scene so we travelled 7,500 Miles in three weeks on a greyhound bus. We started in Chicago and went to Laramie and Rock Springs Salt Lake City san Francisco los Angeles and Denver he said. We were supposed to Fly Back from Denver to new York but then the air controllers strike started. So we got Back on the bus we spent 42 hours on the bus in one hop. But it was so beneficial to the Story that i wrote because i Learned so much about americans Francis said. The people in Chicago Are foreigners to those i met in Arizona. I talked to them and picked things Francis latest Book break in already is a smashing Success in England. . Putnam s sons published the Book this month in the United states. Break in and the Book he is now working on plow some new ground for Francis for the first time he will use the same principal character jockey Christmas kit Fielding in successive books. It s something i be never done before Francis said. But kit was very Well it is not however the first time a character has appeared in different books. Sid Halley was my main character in the racing came Francis said. The Story became a British television show and Francis was so pleased by the actor who played Halley that i decided to use Sid Halley again in whip hand. That was written 10 or 12 years but kit Fielding has now become Francis favorite character. An alter ego perhaps people keep asking me that but i Tell them i m not As Clever As kit is. Actually i use a variety of characters in my books. He might be a manufacturer of toys As in High stakes or a photographer As in the Frame. They Are All similar characters and All Deal with racing in one Way or Francis two sons show up in the Book twice shy. That Book was written in two halves on two Brothers and both Are based very much on the lives of my sons Francis said. Merrick Francis who will be 36 on april 1, is a Racehorse Trainer and his brother Felix 33, teaches High school science in England. I like to use my life As much As i can without saying it s me. My characters Are fictitious except that they Are an amalgam of people i know. Lester Piggott saw himself in rat race Francis said. It was a character who was a Champion jockey. Lester said to me six weeks later i did t like being called Colin Ross the principal character. But in general people Don t really see themselves in my books but they always seem to see me As the main character. They Tell me you re always writing about yourself " March 17,1986 stripes Magazine 17
