British Thriller Writer Dick Francis Dies at Age 89

LONDON – A spokeswoman says best-selling British thriller writer and former jockey Dick Francis has died in his home in the Cayman Islands. He was 89.

Francis was the author of 42 novels. He was also a successful jockey, winning over 350 races.

He retired from racing in 1957 and took up writing, first as a racing correspondent for Britain's Sunday Express newspaper. He began writing novels in 1962.

His spokeswoman, Ruth Cairns, says Sunday the writer is survived by two sons, five grandchildren and one great-grandson.