For Kicks (published in 1965) - Doping and horse racing - a book by Dick Francis

Richard Stanley Francis or Dick Francis was born in Pembrokshire, Wales, England on October 20th 1920. His father was a renowned jockey and Francis was catapulted in to the world of Horses, Jockeys and racing. He droppd out of school to train as a Jockey and was fighter pilot in the Royal Air-force during World War II. After the war Francis became a celebrity Champion Jockey winning over 350 races. He was the lead Jockey for the Queen Mother. But he had to drop out of Horse racing after a serious fall an d became a racing correspondent for Sunday Express. Dick Francis churned out numerous best sellers and most of his books deal with the mysteries in the realm of Horse racing and Jockeys. He wrote more than 40 international best sellers and is the recipient of numerous awards. Being a three time recipient of Mystery writer of America's Edgar Award he was made the Grand master of MWA. He is also the recipient of Britain's Crime Writers Association's Gold Dagger Award for fiction in 1979 and the Cartier Diamond Dagger lifetime achievement award. He also has the Gumshoe award to his credit. He was accorded in CBE in 2000. Dick Francis died in his Caribbean home on February 10, 2010 bringing down the curtains to an illustrious life.
"For Kicks" is the quintessential Dick Francis book where the Hero tries to solve the mystery in the racing world, but this time it is doping. Daniel Roke, an Australian stud farmer is asked by Earl October to investigate a series of wins posted by unfancied horses at the all England Racing Circuit. Roke is happy in Australia but the money dangled by Mr. October is too juicy a carrot to refuse. It does not help to have dependent siblings and family, the need for money makes it more difficult to refuse the offer. So Roke reaches England to investigate and takes up a job as the stable hand in various stables.



The mystery baffling the officials are the fact that unfancied horses win the race and they appear stimulated. But tests done on them only show an increased adrenaline count with no trace of any drug. The fastest horses are also tested whether they are doped to lose, but these too come negative. Roke disguised as the stable hand at the Earls stable come in to contact with his daughters regularly. He rebuffs the elder one and a tender relationship builds with the younger Elinor.
As the investigations proceed, Roke notices that most of the winners were horses once owned by a Humber or Adams. He gets in to their stables as a stable hand and find the work conditions atrocious. Slowly but steadily he unearths the mystery which ultimately threatens his survival. This may come as a spoiler, but the real scorcher of the book is the method of doping. Using the Pavlovian principle, Francis gives a new doping mantra, fear. Fear incited by prolonged torture followed by a stimulant in this case a whistle makes the horses bolt in terror and win the race. As always Roke is found, tortured and survives to tell the tale and reap the rewards.
An amazing book, crisp and refreshing which only Francis can imagine. Dick Francis builds up the suspense gradually that the reader is completely drawn in to the plot. Unlike his many heroes, Roke is handsome and suave, but goes through the similar travesties in search of answers. One can sense the English society of the seventies, the racing fraternity and the ambience of the field through this amazing book. This one heck of a journey every reader can take.