Secretariat’s Triple Crown jockey Ron Turcotte dies at 84

Hall of Fame jockey Ron Turcotte, who rode Secretariat to the Triple Crown in 1973, has died. He was 84.

Turcotte’s household mentioned by means of his longtime enterprise accomplice and buddy Leonard Lusky that the Canada-born jockey died of pure causes Friday at his dwelling in Drummond, New Brunswick.

He gained the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes twice every, most notably sweeping the three with Secretariat to finish horse racing’s Triple Crown drought that dated to Citation in 1948.

“Ron was a great jockey and an inspiration to so many, both within and outside the racing world,” Lusky mentioned. “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 file time of two:24 within the Belmont, profitable by 31 lengths at a 1 1/2-mile distance, nonetheless stands 52 years later.

“I still had a lot of horse when I passed the wire,” Turcotte mentioned in 2023, almost 50 years to the day since driving Secretariat within the Belmont. “He was not tired. … It was amazing.”

Turcotte gained 3,032 races over a virtually two-decade profession that resulted in 1978 when he fell off a horse early in a race and suffered accidents that made him paraplegic. Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund chairman William J. Punk Jr. referred to as Turcotte one of many sport’s best champions and ambassadors and praised him for his advocacy and efforts to assist fellow fallen riders.

“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,” New York Racing Association president and CEO David O’Rourke mentioned. “By devoting himself to supporting fellow jockeys struggling through similar injuries, Ron Turcotte built a legacy defined by kindness and compassion.”

Turcotte was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 1979.

“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.” the Turcotte household mentioned in a press release by means of Lusky.

Turcotte was born in Drummond on July 22, 1941, as one among 12 youngsters. He stop college to work as a lumberjack earlier than transferring to Toronto to get entangled in horse racing, first as a hotwalker after which a jockey, changing into the main rider at Woodbine Racetrack earlier than rising to the Triple Crown degree.

Woodbine chairman Jim Lawson mentioned Turcotte was “a true Canadian icon whose impact on horse racing is immeasurable.”

“Ron carried himself with humility, strength and dignity,” Lawson mentioned. “His legacy in racing, both here at Woodbine and around the world, will live forever.”

Turcotte gained the Preakness in 1965 aboard Tom Rolfe and the Derby and Belmont in 1972 with Riva Ridge. But it was his time with Secretariat that made Turcotte a family title in racing, and he referred to as it “love at first ride.”

“He was the type of horse that you’ll never see again,” Turcotte mentioned two years in the past. “He was doing something that you’ve never seen before and will probably never see again.”

Turcotte was the final surviving member of Secretariat’s crew: The colt died in 1989, groom Eddie Sweat in 1998, coach Lucien Laurin in 2000, proprietor Penny Chenery in 2017 and train rider Charlie Davis in 2018.

“Ron Turcotte was an icon and will forever be fondly remembered as the trusted partner of legendary Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown winner Secretariat, arguably the most popular thoroughbred in history,” Churchill Downs Racetrack president Mike Anderson mentioned. “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.”