Read at Malvern Treatment Center.

13 enjoyable short stories

A thoroughly enjoyable collection of short stories. Most were character studies with a horse-racing theme, all with a mystery-like twist at the end. If all short stories were like these, I’d read more of them.

Thirteen short stories, related to horse racing, by Dick Francis.

My favorite story was "Collision Course," about a smalltown newspaper editor with higher standards than those of the syndicate that purchases the paper and fires him.

3.5

This is a book of 13 short stories centered around horse racing and the jockeys, trainers,owners and gamblers whose lives depend on the sport. Many of the stories involve cheating of one sort or another. My favorites were the ones where honesty and professionalism are rewarded. These were few in number. Although Dick Francis is widely known as a mystery writer most of these stories are not actually in that genre.

These are short stories which have all been published in other places. They are, as you would expect, about horse racing and the race track people. They are clever and original. He draws rather stereotypical characters, and he has some nice endings. There is very little blood or violence in these stories. Greed, ego, deceit, bribery, robbery, and other crimes of the mind and what might be called "white collar" crimes. They were easy reads.

A few of his short stories were fun some long and boring

"Field of Thirteen" are short stories by Dick Francis, all try to twist ending, some not as just as I'd wish, less justice, easier on wrong-doers. The variety of scams hint ideas never fleshed out to full length. Not as much humor as I like, incomparable skill creating whole personalities from bits, names, single sentences, even omissions. I read them all before; liked first best, drawn by chance according to foreword "Notes on the Racecard", that also name-drops Penguin publisher, wife, and Caribbean sea apartment. Francis was well rewarded for his talent.

1 Raid at Kingdom Hill - "Tricksy Wilcox was not the most intelligent of men" p3, "was never" p12, caught stealing betting funds after calling in bogus bomb scare, by cop attracted running legs clad in fluorescent orange sox. (Spoiler: Mrs Angelisa Ludville, debt-ridden deserted Tote ticket clerk, and lazy lax security officer Major Kevin Cawdor-Jones both abscond with more scot-free, while Tricksy stays mum.)
2 Dead on Red - Emil Jacques Guirlande, assassin afraid of flying, shoots flame-haired successful jockey Red, gun hidden under tourist map, paid by jealous "Rock" Davey Rockman to next take out suspicious employer Gypsy Joe. (Spoiler: Enroute to second job, ferry sinks, crimson hull visible last.)
3 Song for Mona - Joanie Vine selfish snob, ignores illness of country-accented mother Mona Watkins, causing death. (Spoiler: Angry friends, rich Bolingbrokes, famous singer Cassidy Lovelace Ward writes and dedicates memorial song, and with husband gold-medal rider Oliver keep hidden newspaper article that Joan's late father convicted child-rapist.)
4 Bright White Star - (No names) Tramp warned off by shotgun of Jim and Vivi Turner after landowner kicks down his shelter on Xmas Eve. (Spoiler: Tramp gives apologetic landowner colt with forehead star he slipped away from thieves Turners; landowner tells sergeant to call Race officials.)
5 Collision Course - Absalom Elvis da Vinci "Bill" Williams, editor fired from Cotswold Voice news, treated like dirt arriving by boat to Kinser-owned restaurant for job interview. (Spoiler: Interviewer R. Harold Field hires Bill after he asks Kinsey for apology and permanent welcoming notice for boaters.)
6 Nightmare - Martin Retsov, upset by recurring visions of run-over father who taught him scam stealing pregnant mares, works feed sales legit three years before pickpocket hitch-hiker Johnnie Duke seems ideal new partner to start up again. (Spoiler: Sergeant Duke and backup catch villain red-handed.)
7 Carrot for a Chestnut - Whining "ungrateful beast" p182 bad Chick 19 accepts payoff, feeds poisoned carrot to chestnut, Toddy Morrison falls, horse dies. Trainer Arthur Morrison assigns Chick next. (Spoiler: Chick feeds drugs too late, horse falls, dies, rider Chick paralyzed, cared for his family, the Morrisons.) see "The Treasury of Great Racing Stories http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
8 The Gift - Fred Collyer 46 alcoholic reporter, oblivious to others' disgust, blacks out after overhearing Kentucky Derby fix, but starts to remember when Blisters Schultz steals wallet thus drink money. (Spoiler: Fred borrows money, passes out, misses deadline.)
9 Spring Fever - Mrs Angela Hart, kindly gullible wealthy widow 52, falls for jockey Derek 24. Observant trainer "darling" Clement gets Derek in cahoots to over-rate useless colt "Magic", pay £5K, charge £20K. Chance bystander Yorkshire seller's brother, innocently exposes scam. (Spoiler: Derek, injured in fall, feels guilty, confesses, but advises that Magic has true potential and trainer will lie to avoid Whitbread race. Angela, sad but open-eyed blackmails Clement to run colt in as promised, wins a bundle, sells horses, goes on cruise.)
10 Blind Chance - Arnold Roper knows photo-finish winners, informs network of separate betters, like unemployed family man Greg 52, and takes cut. Blind teen has radio hobby, overhears transmission before judge announces result, wins independently of gang, but noticed by chance. (Spoiler: Arnold is photographer that develops official snapshots.)
11 Corkscrew - Sandy Nutbridge, his aged mother, and wealthy Jules Reginald Harlow are all British and conned by crooked American lawyer Patrick Green. (Spoiler: Harlow has honor, persistence, and funds to hire smart lawyer David Vynn for justice. Four years later, debt-free "but still dishonest at heart" Green moves to another state, but victim of swindle "in a dark alley beat [him] to a pulp.")
12 The Day of the Losers - Austin Dartmouth Glenn cannot wait five years for hot serial numbers to be obscure, so grimes new banknotes and takes to Grand National. Jerry Springwood jockey 32 has lost his heart. Stewards deny Chief Superintendent Crispin request to fix win and catch member of murdering bank gang collecting on bet, but Springwood conquers fears and wins anyway. (Spoiler: Glenn rips up ticket but first placer disqualified; by not collecting he "cursed his wife and kicked the cat", but keeps job as nearby jail night guard. Jockey retires, weeps "for lost courage", doesn't "realize he rode bravest race of his life". p314
13 Haig's Death - Winchester race judge Christopher Haig 42 fantasizes still, not knowing this is his last day of life. Jasper Billington Innes and wife Wendy 42 are bankrupt, need first-runner Lilyglit to win. Second favorite Fable owners Arkwright brothers jockey and trainer are dishonest, going to be caught this time. Storm Cone #3 jockey Moggie Reilly 24, fallen for trainer's daughter Sarah Driffield, refuses last-ditch plea from normally honest Innes to throw race. (Spoiler: Haig's death causes race declared void as if "nothing happened", so Innes, Reilly, even Arkwrights have happy fates after an eventful dangerous race.)

Trivia:
#1 has "millenniumized money and usages" p1, unlike Australian pounds in "For Kicks"
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
#9 has numbers only, I added pounds symbol because set in England.

Thirteen short stories written by Dick Francis. What's not to like about that! Each story in some way is connected to horses and the world of racing. Each short a great sprint full of detail that keeps your interest to the finish line!

13 short stories, each a pleasure. Perfect for holiday or any kind of travel.