Francis P.M Hyland is a racing enthusiast who has written widely on Irish Racing history. Originally a stockbroker, he took a sabbatical to write the history of the Irish Derby, got lured into the world of bookmaking and never went back to stocks and shares. Francis has represented the Irish Racecourse bookmakers for many years, first as Honorary Secretary and later as Chairman of their Association, and is currently the bookmaker on the Board of Horse Racing Ireland. A widower with one grown-up son, he lives in Bray, Co. Wicklow.