Dick Francis has written more than 40 novels, as well as an autobiography,
The Sport of Queens, a
biography of jockey Lester Piggott,
A Jockey’s Life, and several short stories, 13 of which are
collected in Field of
Thirteen.
The last few books were written with his younger son, Felix.
Dick Francis was a steeplechase jockey from 1948 to 1957,
and champion jockey for the 1953-54 season.
His most famous moment as a jockey came in the 1956 Grand
National, when his horse, the Queen Mother's Devon Loch, fell a
few yards away from winning the prestigious race.
The titles marked with an asterisk have commentary on the
associated page. More will be added as I find the time.
| TITLE | YEAR | MAIN CHARACTER | OCCUPATION | RATING
|
| Dead Cert *
| 1962
| Alan York
| Amateur jockey, Company representative
| ***
|
| Nerve *
| 1964
| Rob Finn
| Professional jockey
| ***
|
| For Kicks *
| 1965
| Daniel Roke
| Australian horse breeder, undercover investigator
| ****
|
| Odds Against *
| 1965
| Sid Halley
| Investigator, former champion jockey
| ****
|
| Flying Finish *
| 1966
| Henry Grey
| Amateur jockey, semi-professional pilot, in-flight horse-transport supervisor
| ***
|
| Blood Sport *
| 1967
| Gene Hawkins
| Civil service screener
| ***
|
| Forfeit *
| 1968
| James Tyrone
| Racing journalist
| ****
|
| Enquiry *
| 1969
| Kelly Hughes
| Professional jockey
| ***
|
| Bonecrack *
| 1971
| Neil Griffon
| Business consultant
| ****
|
| Rat Race *
| 1972
| Matt Shore
| Air taxi pilot
| ****
|
| Smokescreen *
| 1972
| Edward Lincoln
| Actor
| **
|
| Slay Ride
| 1973
| David Cleveland
| Jockey Club Director of Security
| **
|
| Knockdown *
| 1974
| Jonah Dereham
| Bloodstock agent
| ***
|
| High Stakes
| 1975
| Steven Scott
| Inventor, racehorse owner
| ****
|
| In the Frame *
| 1976
| Charles Todd
| Artist
| ***
|
| Risk *
| 1977
| Roland Britten
| Accountant, amateur jockey
| ***
|
| Trial Run
| 1978
| Randall Drew
| Gentleman farmer, former jockey
| **
|
| Whip Hand
| 1979
| Sid Halley
| Investigator, former champion jockey
| ****
|
| Reflex *
| 1980
| Philip Nore
| Professional jockey, amateur photographer
| ****
|
| Twice Shy
| 1981
| Jonathan Derry
| Teacher, Olympic marksman
| ***
|
| William Derry
| Owner’s representative
| ***
|
| Banker *
| 1982
| Tim Ekaterin
| Merchant banker
| ***
|
| The Danger
| 1983
| Andrew Douglas
| Kidnapping investigator
| ***
|
| Proof
| 1984
| Tony Beach
| Wine merchant
| ****
|
| Break In
| 1985
| Kit Fielding
| Champion jockey
| ****
|
| Bolt
| 1987
| Kit Fielding
| Champion jockey
| ****
|
| Hot Money
| 1987
| Ian Pembroke
| Amateur jockey
| ****
|
| The Edge
| 1988
| Tor Kelsey
| Jockey Club undercover investigator
| ***
|
| Straight *
| 1989
| Derek Franklin
| Professional jockey
| ****
|
| Longshot *
| 1990
| John Kendall
| Writer
| ***
|
| Comeback
| 1991
| Peter Darwin
| Diplomat
| ***
|
| Driving Force
| 1992
| Freddy Croft
| Former jockey, owner of horse tranport business
| ***
|
| Decider
| 1993
| Lee Morris
| Architect/builder
| ****
|
| Wild Horses
| 1994
| Thomas Lyon
| Film director
| ***
|
| Come to Grief
| 1995
| Sid Halley
| Investigator, former champion jockey.
| ***
|
| To the Hilt
| 1996
| Alexander Kinloch
| Artist
| ****
|
| 10-lb. Penalty *
| 1997
| Benedict Juliard
| Student, amateur jockey, insurance investigator
| ***
|
| Second Wind
| 1999
| Perry Stuart
| TV meteorologist
| ***
|
| Shattered
| 2000
| Gerard Logan
| Glass blower and sculptor
| ****
|
| Under Orders
| 2006
| Sid Halley
| Investigator, former champion jockey.
| ***
|
| Dead Heat *
| 2007
| Max Moreton
| Chef and restaurateur
| ****
|
| Silks
| 2008
| Geoffrey Mason
| Barrister
| ***
|
| Even Money
| 2009
| Ned Talbot
| Bookmaker
| ***
|
| Crossfire
| 2010
| Thomas Forsyth
| Soldier (on medical leave)
| ****
|
Unless otherwise credited, the contents of this page are
copyright Chris F.A. Johnson
The horse on this and subsequent pages (where it is a link
back to this page) is taken from a print
by Currier and Ives.
