The fable of the family Francis
January 23rd 2009 08:17
Felix Francis is currently in Australia doing research for the upcoming Dick Francis (with Felix Francis) novel which is to be released in September of 2009.
(photo: Robert McKechnie)
The facet of research he came to Australia to see in the flesh (apart from attending his son’s wedding to an Australian woman) was the famous Australia Day races at Hanging Rock.
Hanging Rock is the scene of folklore and mystery - being the main character in essence of the novel, Picnic At Hanging Rock, by Joan Lindsay. The eerie monolith looks out over the picturesque country racetrack - and the (two only) racemeetings held there each year are a wonderful experience (I had an unsuccessful runner there one Australia Day several years ago).
But unfortunately this Australian Summer (and climate change and water restrictions) have meant that the Hanging Rock meeting of Australia Day has been transferred to Kyneton.
Picnic At Kyneton. No rock.
Not quite the same ring.
“The Committee of the club has determined that the race meeting be transferred to Kyneton because the club could not guarantee that the track would be presented at the required standards as set by Racing Victoria Limited due to the lack of water. Despite a lateral approach to the issue the committee and management have been unable to devise a cost effective method of transporting any water into the Hanging Rock Reserve.” - Anthony Quigley, president of the Hanging Rock Racing Club.
The Kyneton Racecourse is located only 15 minutes from the Hanging Rock.
However, the committee of Hanging Rock Racing Club have allowed Felix full access to the racetrack at Hanging Rock (this to precede his day at the Kyneton races as guest of the club). Felix will be equipped with camera to take photographs of the track and surrounds - and no doubt be regaled with many stories during the afternoon.
This new book has a ‘colonial’ Australian component as a major character flees Britain and finds a sanctuary in Australia. The manuscript is due at the publisher’s office before April (remember, publication is to be in September) and Felix says he has around 50,000 words of a 100,000 word novel already completed. But still, a tight deadline.
After Mary Francis died in 2000 Dick had decided never to write again (they had agreed to retire from writing just one month before Mary died). It took several years until the passion returned (a reason for living) and Dick Francis returned again in 2006 with Under Orders. Subsequently in 2007 (Dead Heat) and 2008 (Silks) Felix Francis has been credited as co-author. Felix had helped with plots and writing over the many years - his first foray being into the aspect of bomb making when seventeen and already a very competent student of physics and chemistry. Felix would later become a teacher of Physics.
One of the worst kept secrets of Literature was that Dick and Mary were (practically) equal partners in the writing of Dick Francis novels. As much was suggested in the 1999 unauthorised biography by Graham Lord (Dick Francis: A Racing Life).
Felix now writes Dick Francis novels - and his father (now 88 years old) is always given editorial rights and final veto. The process of writing is now more transparent with Felix Francis appearing on the title page.
There was a Dick Francis novel published every year up until the death of his wife Mary in 2000. Felix is now ensuring that the same pace is being kept and this new novel should be out later in 2009.
Hanging Rock:
Hanging Rock Racing Club
Hanging Rock Recreation Reserve. South Rock Road. Hesket (9 Kms NE of Woodend Post Office)
Cup Meeting
Monday 26 January 2009
Track Circumference
1400m
Length of Straight
275m
Distance to 1st Turn
Race of 1000m - about 450m. Race of 1600m - about 250m. Race of 1800m - about 450m.
Race of 2400m - about 450m
Racecourse Characteristics
Track declines steadily from 400m mark past the winning post to the 1200m from where it rises steadily again to the 600m mark. Track is now fully irrigated and drained
Field Limit
10 in all events.
Meetings per Year
2 (non-TAB)
Hanging Rock Races
(photo: Robert McKechnie)
The facet of research he came to Australia to see in the flesh (apart from attending his son’s wedding to an Australian woman) was the famous Australia Day races at Hanging Rock.
Hanging Rock is the scene of folklore and mystery - being the main character in essence of the novel, Picnic At Hanging Rock, by Joan Lindsay. The eerie monolith looks out over the picturesque country racetrack - and the (two only) racemeetings held there each year are a wonderful experience (I had an unsuccessful runner there one Australia Day several years ago).
But unfortunately this Australian Summer (and climate change and water restrictions) have meant that the Hanging Rock meeting of Australia Day has been transferred to Kyneton.
Picnic At Kyneton. No rock.
Not quite the same ring.
“The Committee of the club has determined that the race meeting be transferred to Kyneton because the club could not guarantee that the track would be presented at the required standards as set by Racing Victoria Limited due to the lack of water. Despite a lateral approach to the issue the committee and management have been unable to devise a cost effective method of transporting any water into the Hanging Rock Reserve.” - Anthony Quigley, president of the Hanging Rock Racing Club.
The Kyneton Racecourse is located only 15 minutes from the Hanging Rock.
However, the committee of Hanging Rock Racing Club have allowed Felix full access to the racetrack at Hanging Rock (this to precede his day at the Kyneton races as guest of the club). Felix will be equipped with camera to take photographs of the track and surrounds - and no doubt be regaled with many stories during the afternoon.
This new book has a ‘colonial’ Australian component as a major character flees Britain and finds a sanctuary in Australia. The manuscript is due at the publisher’s office before April (remember, publication is to be in September) and Felix says he has around 50,000 words of a 100,000 word novel already completed. But still, a tight deadline.
After Mary Francis died in 2000 Dick had decided never to write again (they had agreed to retire from writing just one month before Mary died). It took several years until the passion returned (a reason for living) and Dick Francis returned again in 2006 with Under Orders. Subsequently in 2007 (Dead Heat) and 2008 (Silks) Felix Francis has been credited as co-author. Felix had helped with plots and writing over the many years - his first foray being into the aspect of bomb making when seventeen and already a very competent student of physics and chemistry. Felix would later become a teacher of Physics.
One of the worst kept secrets of Literature was that Dick and Mary were (practically) equal partners in the writing of Dick Francis novels. As much was suggested in the 1999 unauthorised biography by Graham Lord (Dick Francis: A Racing Life).
Felix now writes Dick Francis novels - and his father (now 88 years old) is always given editorial rights and final veto. The process of writing is now more transparent with Felix Francis appearing on the title page.
There was a Dick Francis novel published every year up until the death of his wife Mary in 2000. Felix is now ensuring that the same pace is being kept and this new novel should be out later in 2009.
Hanging Rock:
Hanging Rock Racing Club
Hanging Rock Recreation Reserve. South Rock Road. Hesket (9 Kms NE of Woodend Post Office)
Cup Meeting
Monday 26 January 2009
Track Circumference
1400m
Length of Straight
275m
Distance to 1st Turn
Race of 1000m - about 450m. Race of 1600m - about 250m. Race of 1800m - about 450m.
Race of 2400m - about 450m
Racecourse Characteristics
Track declines steadily from 400m mark past the winning post to the 1200m from where it rises steadily again to the 600m mark. Track is now fully irrigated and drained
Field Limit
10 in all events.
Meetings per Year
2 (non-TAB)
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