Dick Francis was born in Tenby, Pembrokeshire. At an early age he set his heart on becoming a professional jockey. In 1938 his father set up his own stables and recruited his son to look after the horses. The war was a setback for his ambitions to become a jockey. He joined the RAF and he became a pilot, an experience he later used in some of his books. In 1947 he married Mary Brenchley. In 1948 he became a professional jockey. In 1954 he became Champion Jockey. He retired in 1957 and started to write for the Sunday Express until 1973. The first book he wrote was his autobiography, The Sport of Queens (1957). In 1962 his first crime novel was published. Now he is established as one of the great crime writers. His last four novels he wrote together with his son Felix Francis. Visit also this site.