Costco Connection

book
pick
All the Queen’s horses
Jockey-turned-author celebrates
more than 50 years of writing
Signed book
gıveaway

track was far from over.

“From royalty at the top all the way to the bottom of the social spectrum, racing brings all sorts of people together in their enjoyment of the sport,” he says. “Many of th e characters in my books are am al- gamations of peo ple

I have known in th e industry over the y ears .”

His stories u sua lly have a message of co co ur- age and loyalty, va lues that are impor- tant to him, but not, he admits, the sole reason he became a novelist.

ADRIAN HOUS TON

“I suppose I should say that I write novels because I have a message to get across or because I feel that certain things need to be said, but, to be honest, I started writing books because being a newspaperman did not pay as well as being a top jockey,” Francis says.

His work ethic has resulted in the autobiography, 39 novels and eight short stories as well as A Jockey’s Life, a biography of fellow British jockey Lester Piggott. He has also edited (with John Welcome) four collections of racing stories, and has contributed to anthologies and periodicals.

Francis’ books are wildly popular internationally, having been translated into more than 30 languages. He is the recipient of British Crime Writers Association Silver, Gold and Cartier Diamond Daggers, as well as three Edgar Allen Poe Awards for Best Novel and a Grand Master award from the Mystery Writers of America.

When asked about future aspiration, Francis quips, “Living to 88. Anything else is a bonus. But I am working on another book. Do they take on new astronauts at my age?” C

By Will Fifield

IT WAS A DAY to remember. He was riding Devon Loch, a horse owned by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, in the internationally renowned Grand National steeplechase. This is one of the biggest betting races in the UK. It’s wildly popular, even with people who don’t normally follow horse racing during the rest of the year. And this was his eighth time riding in the Grand National, so he was keen on winning.

“Having jumped 30 great fences and with just 40 yards to go to the finish, Devon Loch and I were winning easily when he collapsed underneath me,” recalls celebrated British novelist and former champion race horse jockey Dick Francis. “It was both the high point and the low point of my career.”

Francis, 87, views this event, which took place in March 1956, as the turning point of his life. For years before this moment he’d been a celebrity in the UK, having won more than 350 races in his burgeoning career. As a ^Dick ^Francisjockey, it doesn’t get any better than riding for the Queen Mother.

But later that season, when Francis stepped down from his pinnacle in the racing world and hung up his silks because of injuries he sustained during the fall, a literary agent approached him about writing an autobiography. His book, The Sport of Queens (Michael Joseph, 1957), resulted in an offer to write six features for the London Sunday Express.

“Disaster puts things into perspective. Without that incident I may never have written a word,” Francis tells The Connection. “But I still dream I win that race.”

Six columns turned into a 16-year stint as racing correspondent. “Nowadays very many journalists are past sportsmen, but back then the press and the players didn’t meet and they didn’t trust one another,” says Francis. “It was a difficult transition from the locker room to the press room.”

He considers his time as a correspondent as on-the-job training in a new career. “Blue pencil lines were drawn through anything I wrote which took up more space than it was worth. Also, writing for newspaper deadlines taught me discipline in my work,” Francis says.

His work as a journalist inspired him to try his hand at fiction. In 1962 he published Dead Cert, his first novel. It was so well received that he went on to publish 38 other novels, many of which became international bestsellers.

While Francis’ accident may have ended his riding career, he kept it alive in his novels, which are all set in and around horse racing. They’re rich with characters he pieces together from his lifelong involvement in the sport. In this way, his time at the

C OSTCOHAS50sets o f thr ee Dick Francis bo ok s with signed b o ok plates—Decider, S lay Ride and Wild

H o rses—to give away.
T o enter, print your
n ame, membership
n umber, address
a nd daytime phone
n umber on a post-
c ard or letter and
s e ndit it to: Dick Francis,
T h eCostco Costco Connect-
i on, P. O. Box 34088, Seattle,
W A 98124-1088. Or send an
e-mail to giveaway@costco.
com, with “Dick Francis”
in the subject line.

No purchase is necessary. Open to legal residents of the U.S. (except Puerto Rico) who are age 18 or older at the time of entry and who are current Costco members. One entry per household. Entries must be received or postmarked by June 2, 2008. Winners will be randomly selected and notified by mail on or before July 1, 2008. The value of the prize is $22.97. Void where prohibited. Winners are responsible for all applicable federal, state and local taxes. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Employees of Costco or Penguin Group and their families are not eligible.

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WHEN I TAKE THE TIME to search my memory, it’s fair to say that one of my dad’s favorite places was the racetrack. He reveled in the atmosphere of excitement and the beauty and power of the horses. Now, years later, it’s difficult for me to think of one without the other. This month’s pick is not a single title, but three, by the author to turn to if you want a good story about horse racing and what happens on and off the track. By choosing to highlight three of Francis’ novels, I hope to honor his knowledge of racing, his talent as a writer and my love and respect for my father.