Dick Francis Dies at 89

The worlds of horse racing and popular fiction lost Dick Francis on Sunday, who died at the age of 89. Francis, originally from Wales, had built an entire career as an elite jockey through the 1950s before deciding to write thrillers that featured horse racing. Working closely with his wife, Mary, who was rumored to have co-authored many of his titles, Francis published more than 40 novels and sold over 60 million copies. He even counted the Queen Mother, a lifelong horse enthusiast, among his fans.