Retired Jockey Ron Turcotte, reminded for driving at the Secretariat to win the Triple Crown from 1973 during a Hall of Fame career that ended prematurely in 1978 because of a tragic racing fleature, died of natural causes on August 22 in his drumming house outside Grand Falls. He was 84.
Turcotte’s family formally announced his death through Leonard Lusky, his old friend and business representative.
“Ron was a great jockey and an inspiration for so many, both inside and outside the racing world. Although he achieved the pinnacle of success in his calling, it was his abundance of faith, courage and kindness that was the true size of his greatness,” Lusky said.
New Brunswick, born in Canada as the third eldest of 12 children in 1941 in Grand Falls, Turcotte, initially supported his family as a teenager as a lumberjack before he found his calling on the racertrack. As a teenager connected Turcotte connected to EP Taylor, the legendary Canadian owner and breeder. Turcotte went to the farm of Taylor, hotwalking thoroughbred.
Light in shape, he turned out to be very suitable for jockey and drove his first winner on Fort Erie Racetrack in Ontario in 1962. Towards the end of the year he was the leading driver in Canada with 180 victories. In 1963 he again earned the honors in Canada with 216 victories before he left in September to ride in Maryland and later New York and Delaware.
He would be massive success in the United States. In addition to driving Meadow Stable’s Hall of Famer Secretariat, Turcotte was also the primary jockey for Meadow Stable Champion and Hall of Famer Riva Ridge, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes from 1972. Lucien Laurin trained both colts.
Read America’s best racing legends profile of Ron Turcotte
When Turcotte won the 1973 derby with secretariat, he became the first jockey since Jimmy Winkfield in 1902 to win successive editions of the race. In 1972 and 1973, Turcotte was the leading stakes-winning jockey of North America. He was honored with the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1973. Only Laffit Pincay Jr. Earned more money than Turcotte in 1973 under North American Jockeys.
Turcotte would also ride on Hall of Famers Arts and Letters, Dahlia, Damascus, Dark Mirage, Fort Marcy, Northern Dancer and Shuvee next to the Meadow Stable Stars. He captured his first Triple Crown race with Tom Rolfe in the 1965 preakness.
Turcotte’s driving career was demolished on July 13, 1978, when he was not put in Belmont Park in his last race of the afternoon in his mountain, flag of Leyte Gulf. His horse cut heels and stumbled, threw Turcotte. The rider broke his neck in the fall and was paralyzed down from the waist.
That year he received a Sovereign Award as a man of the year. At the time, the only other men who received man of the year -subsessions received EP Taylor and Jack Diamond.
Other distinctions for Turcotte were the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award from Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Racing and the Turf Publicists of America’s Big Sport or Turfdom Award. In 1974 Turcotte was admitted to the Order of Canada, the highest civil honor of the country.
After his retirement from the saddle, Turcotte appeared on a race track to raise money and consciousness on behalf of the Permanent Handicapped Jockeys Fund.
Turcotte married his childhood love in 1964, Gaetane. The couple has four daughters: Tina, Anne, Lynn and Tammy. After his career ended, he returned to Drummond to live on his farm.
“The world may remember Ron as the famous jockey of the secretariat, but for us he was a great husband, a loving father, grandfather and a great rider,” the Turcotte family said in a explanation divided by Lusky.
Turcotte recovered during his retirement of setbacks, including breaking both legs in a row accident in 2015 when his van turned around after touching a Snowbank in New Brunswick.
Turcotte was the last surviving member of the individuals who were most closely linked to the racing career of the secretariat. Owner Penny Chenery died in 2017 at the age of 95. Laurin died in 2000.
Secretariat died in 1989, euthanized after developing laminitis.
Secretariat’s Triple Crown campaign and the Association of Turcotte with the Meadow Stable Champion were depicted in the Blockbuster film ‘Secretaria’ 2010. Turcotte was also the subject of the award -winning documentary “Jockey: Ron Turcotte”, including his biography of his biography.
The family asks for privacy, while plans are formalized for a private funeral. Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the PDJF.
Tribute to Turcotte
“Ron Turcotte was a real Canadian icon whose impact on horse races is immeasurable. From his incredible journey on board the secretariat to his lifelong dedication to the sport, Ron wore himself with humility, strength and dignity. His inheritance in racing, both here on Woodbine and the whole world, will live forever. – Jim Lawson, executive chairman of Woodbine Entertainment
“The Board of Directors of the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund and Its Recipients Mourn The Passing of One of Our Greatest Champions and Ambassadors. Ron’s Tireless Advocacy and Efforts On Behalf of His Fellow Fallen Ridery Houghe is ALTHOUGHOTELATEED Racing Hall of Fame for his Accomplishments in the Saddle, his Contributions to the PDJF Established Him As a Giant in the Hearts of All Associated With This Organization will live forever. – William J. Punk Jr., PDJF – President
“The benevolent and protective association of the National Horsemen joins the entire Racecommunity in the event of the death of Ron Turcotte, one of the most celebrated and beloved Jockeys of the sport. The best remembered as the rider of secretariat during the unforgettable Triple Crocege History in Raceges. – The National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association
“Ron Turcotte was an icon and will be enjoyed forever as the familiar partner of the legendary Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown winner Secretariat, perhaps the most popular bridging in history. Like a two-time Kentucky Derby-Derby winner, brought our deep condoles to the whole world.” – Churchill Downs Racetrack President Mike Anderson
“Ron was a legendary rider and also an inspiration for everything he achieved and conquered during his incredible life. Although it is best known for the sweeping of the Triple Crown with secretariaat-as highlight a 31-length victory in the Belmont stakes in 1973 in the Legacy of his friendly of the 1973. Stories about Big Red, signing or posing for photos. – National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
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