Author Dick Francis dies

LONDON — A spokeswoman for bestselling British thriller writer and former jockey Dick Francis says that the writer has died in his home in the Cayman Islands. He was 89.

Francis was the author of 42 novels and was acclaimed as one of the best thriller writers in the world.

He was also a successful National Hunt jockey, winning over 350 races. He was Champion Jockey in 1954 and 1954.

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

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

- AP