Dick Francis

Dick Francis (1920–2010) was a British jockey, journalist, and crime novelist whose racing-themed thrillers drew heavily on his experience in horse racing.

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Dead Cert: A 1962 crime novel by Dick Francis about a jockey investigating a rival's death. His first novel established the horse-racing thriller that became his signature.
Welsh Grand National: An annual National Hunt horse race held in Wales. Francis won the 1953 running, a defining achievement in his riding career.
Felix Francis: A British novelist and son of Dick Francis who co-wrote and continued his father's crime novels. He collaborated with Francis on late novels and wrote books under the shared author name afterward.
Forfeit: A 1968 Dick Francis novel about a journalist investigating suspicious deaths connected to horse racing. It won the Edgar Award for Best Novel, bringing major crime-writing recognition.
Nerve: A 1964 Dick Francis novel about a jockey whose career is threatened by an investigation into race fixing. It shows how he used racing's professional pressures to drive a mystery.
Grand National: A major annual steeplechase held at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool. Francis rode in the race and later drew on its dangers and spectacle in fiction.
John Welcome: A British horse-racing journalist and author who wrote about the sport in the twentieth century. Welcome edited racing publications and was among the writers in Francis's professional world.
Shamus Award: An award presented by the Private Eye Writers of America for crime fiction featuring private investigators. Francis's novel Comeback received the award for best paperback original in 1990.
Whip Hand: A 1979 Dick Francis novel in which former jockey Sid Halley investigates corruption in horse racing. This award-winning story made his recurring racing investigator especially prominent.
British National Hunt racing: British horse racing over obstacles, including hurdles and steeplechase fences. Francis's career as a jump jockey gave his novels firsthand racing knowledge.