Ron Turcotte, Legendary Jockey of Secretariat, Passes Away at 84

Ron Turcotte, the renowned Hall of Fame jockey celebrated for guiding Secretariat to the Triple Crown in 1973, has passed away at the age of 84. His family confirmed that he died of natural causes on Friday at his residence in Drummond, New Brunswick.

Turcotte's remarkable career included victories in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes, with two wins in each event. His most notable achievement came when he rode Secretariat to a historic Triple Crown victory, ending a 25-year drought since Citation's win in 1948.

“Ron was a great jockey and an inspiration to so many, both within and outside the racing world,” said Leonard Lusky, Turcotte’s longtime business partner and friend. “While he reached the pinnacle of success in his vocation, it was his abundance of faith, courage, and kindness that was the true measure of his greatness.”

Secretariat's record time of 2:24 in the Belmont Stakes, where he won by an astonishing 31 lengths over a distance of 1 1/2 miles, remains unbroken after 52 years. Reflecting on that iconic race, Turcotte remarked in 2023, “I still had a lot of horse when I passed the wire. He was not tired... It was amazing.”

Over nearly two decades, Turcotte amassed a total of 3,032 race wins before his career was cut short in 1978 due to a fall that left him paraplegic. William J. Punk Jr., chairman of the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, hailed Turcotte as one of the sport's greatest champions and praised his advocacy for fellow riders facing similar challenges.

“While his courage as a jockey was on full display to a nation of adoring fans during that electrifying time, it was after he faced a life-altering injury that we learned about the true character of Ron Turcotte,” stated David O’Rourke, president and CEO of the New York Racing Association. “By devoting himself to supporting fellow jockeys struggling through similar injuries, Ron Turcotte built a legacy defined by kindness and compassion.”

Inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 1979, Turcotte's legacy extends beyond his racing achievements. “The world may remember Ron as the famous jockey of Secretariat, but to us he was a wonderful husband, a loving father, grandfather, and a great horseman,” his family expressed through Lusky.

Born on July 22, 1941, in Drummond as one of twelve children, Turcotte left school to work as a lumberjack before transitioning to horse racing in Toronto. He began as a hotwalker and quickly rose to become the leading rider at Woodbine Racetrack before achieving Triple Crown fame.

Woodbine chairman Jim Lawson remarked on Turcotte's impact: “He was a true Canadian icon whose impact on horse racing is immeasurable.” Lawson added, “Ron carried himself with humility, strength and dignity. His legacy in racing, both here at Woodbine and around the world, will live forever.”

Turcotte's earlier victories included the Preakness in 1965 aboard Tom Rolfe and both the Derby and Belmont in 1972 with Riva Ridge. However, it was his partnership with Secretariat that solidified his status as a household name in racing. He described it as “love at first ride,” stating two years ago, “He was the type of horse that you’ll never see again. He was doing something that you’ve never seen before and will probably never see again.”

As the last surviving member of Secretariat’s team—following the deaths of the colt in 1989, groom Eddie Sweat in 1998, trainer Lucien Laurin in 2000, owner Penny Chenery in 2017, and exercise rider Charlie Davis in 2018—Turcotte's passing marks the end of an era.

“Ron Turcotte was an icon and will forever be fondly remembered as the trusted partner of legendary Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown winner Secretariat,” said Mike Anderson, president of Churchill Downs Racetrack. “Ron’s many accomplishments on the racetrack and his deep passion for horse racing brought countless fans to the sport. He will be greatly missed.”