Dick Francis was a great friend of Cheltenham – Gillespie
RACECOURSE chief Edward Gillespie has hailed Dick Francis as a "massive ambassador" for jump racing.
He said the former jockey's celebrated books, in which the plots often featured Cheltenham, had taken the sport to far-flung parts of the world.
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Friend of Cheltenham Dick Francis, who has died at the age of 89
Francis, who has died aged 89, would speak to Gillespie to make sure his books were accurate.
"He has single-handedly transported our world to all corners of the globe," said Gillespie, managing director of Prestbury Park.
"He has taken it to places no one else has taken it.
"I remember being in Zimbabwe and seeing one of his books in a shop window."
Francis, champion jockey in the 1953-54 campaign, was honoured at a dinner at Cheltenham four years ago.
Gillespie said: "He was a great friend of Cheltenham.
"He had a fantastic mind and at the age of 89 his power of recall was quite incredible. He was a terrific character and he had that 'magic dust'.
"He would phone me up to check on details, such as the colours of the flags we used when a jockey was injured.
"He was absolutely meticulous.
"He was great jockey and a massive ambassador for National Hunt racing."
Gillespie said Denman's shock defeat at Newbury on Saturday made the build up to his clash with Kauto Star in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup more interesting.
"They all came away from Newbury unscathed and I thought it was perfect," he said.
"Everyone's wondering now, 'Will he or won't he get it right in the Gold Cup?"
4 Comments
by WALLY QUIRK, West Yorkshire
Tuesday, February 16 2010, 3:09PM
“I now work at a racecourse on race days and my reading of my first Dick Francis novel -"Reflex" quickly followed by others painted such a vivid picture of racecourses, that I wanted to be part of it. I met Dick and Felix at Aintree when I was working there and although he was in great demand by many people for interviews, photos and autographs, he made time to speak to me and to sign some of his books which I had brought with me knowing he would be there. He was such a gentleman.
His books were not just clever stories with twists, they were so meticulous in their detail so much so that they are almost encylopaedic. I have all of his novels on my shelf and read them constantly (I must have read "Reflex" 6 or 7 times and always find something which I didn't quite follow or understand last time. The variety of his subjects matter was wonderful. I have lost count of the number of times I have had cause to say to friends and relatives that "Dick Francis covers that in one of his books" or there is a character like that in a Dick Francis novel. I do so hope that Felix can continue the pattern set by Dick of a book a year and that if he is half as good as his father, he will be perfectly acceptable.
Thankyou Dick for so much pleasure over such a long period of time - you will be missed.
Rest in peace”
by Barry Kirby, Kingsway
Tuesday, February 16 2010, 12:43PM
“Mr Francis was a great author and I have read pretty much all of his books, whilst Horses were always involved, they were not always the central core of the story, hence they appealed to such a range of people. My favourites included "Straight" and "Longshot" as well as "10lb Penalty".”
by John, Cheltenham
Tuesday, February 16 2010, 8:10AM
“Oh so Mr Francis senior's first name gets starred out by the swear word software does it!! :)”
by john, Cheltenham
Tuesday, February 16 2010, 8:08AM
“Dick's son Felix who co wrote his last 3 books was also a Physics teacher at Cheltenham Grammar School for boys in the late 70s up to the mid 80s.”