Finishing post for jockey and thriller writer Dick Francis

Francis won more than 350 races while a National Hunt jockey

Francis was hailed by peers as a "people's champion" after his son, Felix, confirmed the author's death yesterday, saying relatives were "devastated" at the sudden loss of an "extraordinary" father.

His spokesman said Francis, the author of 42 novels, was "rightly acclaimed" as one of the greatest thriller writers in the world.

In his previous career as a champion jockey he rode for the Queen Mother.

The Queen would be saddened to learn of his death, Buckingham Palace said. His books were known to be favourites among the royals.

Francis, who was living on the Cayman Islands in his later years, died of "old age", his spokesman said.

Felix Francis added: "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 wrote a volume of short stories, an autobiography and the biography of Lester Piggott.

Francis was also one of the most successful post-war National Hunt jockeys, winning more than 300 races.

He retired from racing in 1957 and took up writing, first for the Sunday Express and then, in 1962, with the novels.

The horse-racing fraternity paid tribute to him yesterday.

Former BBC commentator Sir Peter O'Sullevan said Francis was one of the "people's champions".

Francis spoke in later life of how he was still haunted by his famous ride on Devon Loch, owned by the Queen Mother.

The horse suddenly appeared to jump up and slip when he seemed certain to win the 1956 Grand National.

Francis confessed in 2006: "The Devon Loch episode was a terrible thing but I look back on it now and I can say that if it hadn't happened I might never have written a book, and my books have certainly helped me to keep the wolf from the door."

Sir Peter told how Francis rode a horse for him in the 1950s at Newton Abbot.

He said: "He was a very good mate. The last time he wrote to me was just before Christmas and he said he was very weak.

"I particularly enjoyed reading his novels and found him a wonderfully efficient author."

John Francome, the former jockey, said: "He was a lovely person who always had a sparkle in his eye, and he had a wicked sense of humour.

"I remember we used to laugh out loud about the old times in the sport and once he did tell me that he would have happily given up all the success he achieved as an author to have won the National on Devon Loch."

Former champion jockey Terry Biddlecombe, husband of Best Mate's trainer Henrietta Knight, said: "He was a good guy and a lovely man and always a help to anyone.

"I knew him for many, many years and I read all his books and they were excellent."

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "I am sure the Queen will be saddened by the news."

Even Money, written with Felix, was published in September 2009 and Crossfire, the new Dick and Felix Francis novel, is scheduled to be published in autumn this year. Francis also had a distinguished military career, serving the RAF in 1940, initially stationed in the Egyptian desert before he was commissioned as a pilot.

His wife, Mary, to whom he was married for 53 years, died in 2000. He also had five grandchildren and one great grandson.

There will be a small funeral at his home in Grand Cayman, followed by a memorial service in London in due course, his spokesman said.