Ron Turcotte: Legendary Jockey of Secretariat Dies at 84
- Ron Turcotte, the Canadian jockey forever linked to the legendary Secretariat, has died at the age of 84.
- Secretariat's 1973 sweep of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes wasn't merely a victory; it was a cultural phenomenon.
- Turcotte's connection to Secretariat wasn't the only Canadian element in the story.
Ron Turcotte, the Jockey Who Rode Secretariat to Glory, Dies at 84
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A Legacy Forged in Triple Crown History
Ron Turcotte, the Canadian jockey forever linked to the legendary Secretariat, has died at the age of 84. His family announced through longtime business partner Leonard Lusky that Turcotte passed away of natural causes at his home in Drummond, New Brunswick, on Friday, August 22, 2025. While amassing over 3,000 career victories,Turcotte’s name will eternally be synonymous with Secretariat’s historic 1973 Triple Crown triumph.
Secretariat’s 1973 sweep of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes wasn’t merely a victory; it was a cultural phenomenon. The Belmont stakes, in particular, remains etched in racing history, with Secretariat winning by an amazing 31 lengths – a record that still stands today. The iconic image of Turcotte, looking back during the race to assess the distance between secretariat and the trailing field, encapsulates the sheer dominance of that performance. “I only looked back for the other horses at the quarter pole and I couldn’t see anything under my arm,” Turcotte recalled in 2023, marking the 50th anniversary of the historic win, to The Canadian Press. “The picture you see of me looking in was when I was looking at the (infield teletimer) as we’d run the first mile and a quarter faster than we did when we won the Derby.”
A Canadian Icon and a Partnership with Laurin
Turcotte’s connection to Secretariat wasn’t the only Canadian element in the story. The legendary colt was trained by Lucien Laurin, hailing from Joliette, Quebec. The night before the Belmont, Laurin and Turcotte shared a dinner filled with quite confidence. “Lucien and I went for dinner the night after (Secretariat’s) last work,” Turcotte recounted. “I told him, ‘If I get beat in the Belmont, I’ll hang up my tack.’ That’s how sure I was and how much confidence I had as of how he’d worked.”
secretariat’s racing career saw him “in the money” – finishing first, second, or third – in 20 of 21 starts (16 wins, three seconds, and one third-place finish). The magnificent animal was sadly euthanized in 1989 due to laminitis, a debilitating hoof disease. Turcotte spoke of the profound loss, stating, “It was like losing a family member.He was the kind of horse that made you want to get out of bed early, get to the barn and get your work done with him… he kept you going.”
Beyond Secretariat: A Full Racing Career
While secretariat defined his legacy, Turcotte enjoyed a distinguished career beyond the Triple Crown winner.he rode Secretariat in 18 of his 21 career starts, securing 15 victories.His final ride aboard Secretariat came in the 1973 Canadian International at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, where he won by 6 ½ lengths, though he was serving a suspension at the time and eddie Maple took the reins.
Turcotte’s talent extended to other notable mounts, including Riva Ridge, whom he guided to victory in the 1972 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, and the legendary Northern Dancer, securing his first win with the horse in 1963 at Fort Erie Racetrack. “As much as I loved Riva Ridge, Northern Dancer is the second-best horse I rode,” Turcotte once said.”He was a heck of a horse. I loved him from the first time I rode him.”
the Turcotte family’s impact on Canadian racing runs deep. His brothers Rudy, Yves, Roger, and Noel also achieved success as jockeys, collectively amassing meaningful earnings and wins:
| Jockey | Victories | Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Rudy Turcotte | 1,740 | $11.6 million |
| Yves Turcotte | 1,347 | $8.9 million |
| Roger Turcotte | 1,187 | $6.5 million |
| noel Turcotte | 945 | $3.43 million |
A Life of Resilience and advocacy
Turcotte’s riding career was tragically cut short in 1978 following a fall at Belmont Park that left him paralyzed. Despite this life-altering injury, he remained deeply committed to the racing community, becoming a passionate advocate for the Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund, an organization dedicated to supporting injured riders.
His contributions to the sport were widely recognized with inductions into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame (1980), the Canadian horse Racing Hall of Fame, the national Museum of Racing Hall of Fame, and the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame. A statue commemorating Turcotte and Secretariat stands in Grand falls, New Brunswick, a lasting tribute to their extraordinary partnership.