London:
Prolific British author Dick Francis, a former jockey whose thrillers rode high in best-selling lists for decades, has died at the age of 89.
He passed away at his Caribbean home in Grand Cayman from "old age", according to a statement released through his publicist.
His son, Felix, said he was "devastated" as he paid tribute to his "extraordinary" father, who wrote 42 novels.
Francis specialised in novels based on the horse racing industry, drawing on his own experiences of winning more than 350 races and being honoured as Champion Jockey for the 1953-54 season.
Francis was still writing at the end of his life.
"Even Money", which he co-authored with Felix, came out in September 2009 and "Crossfire" will be published in August this year.
Felix said: "My brother, Merrick, and I are, of course, devastated by the loss of our father, but we rejoice in having been the sons of such an extraordinary man.
"We share in the joy that he brought to so many over such a long life. It is an honour for me to be able to continue his remarkable legacy through the new novels."
Francis retired from racing in 1957 and took up writing, first for the Sunday Express newspaper and then, in 1962, he turned to novels.
He also had a distinguished military career, initially stationed in the Egyptian desert for the Royal Air Force before he was commissioned as a pilot in 1943.