Ron Turcotte, Jockey Behind Secretariat’s Triple Crown, Dies at 84
Hall of Fame jockey Ron Turcotte has died at his home in Drummond, New Brunswick, at age 84, family says. The Canada-born rider died of natural causes on Friday, according to his longtime business partner and friend Leonard Lusky.
Turcotte’s career flourished across a two-decade span, highlighted by a record-setting moment in 1973 when he guided Secretariat to the sport’s only sweep of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes in the same year. That victory ended horse racing’s long drought since Citation in 1948. Secretariat’s Belmont run remains famous for a 2:24 clocking and a 31-length margin, a performance Turcotte called “love at first ride.”
Over his career, Turcotte amassed 3,032 wins before retiring in 1978 after a fall left him paraplegic. His courage after the injury and his advocacy for fellow jockeys who suffer life-changing accidents earned him admiration beyond the track. Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund chair William J. Punk Jr. lauded Turcotte as one of the sport’s greatest champions and ambassadors, noting his dedication to helping others facing similar challenges. New York Racing Association president and CEO David O’Rourke likewise praised Turcotte for turning adversity into a legacy of kindness and compassion.
Turcotte was inducted into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in 1979. In a family statement released through Lusky, Turcotte was remembered not only as Secretariat’s rider but as a devoted husband, father and grandfather, and a great horseman.
From his beginnings in Drummond, where he was one of 12 children, Turcotte’s path to racing began after leaving school to work as a lumberjack. He later moved to Toronto to pursue the sport, rising to become Woodbine Racetrack’s leading rider before reaching the pinnacle of the Triple Crown stage. His work at Woodbine and around the world drew admiration from peers and racing organizations alike.
Turcotte is celebrated as the last surviving member of Secretariat’s legendary team, a group that also included Secretariat’s groom Eddie Sweat (1998), trainer Lucien Laurin (2000), owner Penny Chenery (2017) and exercise rider Charlie Davis (2018).
“Ron carried himself with humility, strength and dignity,” Woodbine chairman Jim Lawson said. “His legacy in racing will live forever.” Churchill Downs Racetrack president Mike Anderson added that Turcotte’s accomplishments and passion for the sport will be missed by fans around the world.
Summary: Ron Turcotte, the Hall of Fame jockey who steered Secretariat to the 1973 Triple Crown, has died at 84. His career dazzled with a string of major wins, his life took a dramatic turn after a 1978 injury, and his post-racing advocacy left a lasting impact on the sport. His death marks the loss of a figure whose achievements and compassion defined an era in horse racing.