Hall of Fame Jockey Ron Turcotte, Secretariat's Triple Crown Rider, Dies at 84
Legendary jockey Ron Turcotte, Secretariat's 1973 Triple Crown rider, died at 84 from natural causes in Canada, leaving a legacy of 3,000 wins.
Subscribe to unlock this story
We really don't like cutting you off, but you've reached your monthly limit. At just $5/month, subscriptions are how we keep this project going. Start your free 7-day trial today!
Get StartedHave an account? Sign in
Overview
- Hall of Fame jockey Ron Turcotte, renowned for guiding Secretariat to the historic 1973 Triple Crown victory, passed away at the age of 84 at his home in Drummond, New Brunswick, Canada.
- Turcotte died of natural causes, concluding a life marked by significant achievements and an enduring impact on the sport of horse racing as a Canadian icon.
- During his nearly two-decade career, Turcotte achieved over 3,000 race wins, including two victories each in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes.
- His illustrious career was tragically cut short in 1978 when he became paraplegic following a severe fall from a horse, profoundly impacting his life.
- Inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 1979, Turcotte is remembered for his immeasurable contributions and legendary status in horse racing history.
Report issue
Read both sides in 5 minutes each day
Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover Ron Turcotte's passing with a neutral, informative tone, focusing on his remarkable career and personal character. They present factual details about his life, achievements, and the impact he had on horse racing, particularly his legendary partnership with Secretariat, without injecting editorial bias or loaded language, allowing quoted tributes to convey his legacy.
"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."
Chicago Tribune"Turcotte built a legacy defined by kindness and compassion."
Associated PressArticles (6)
Center (2)
FAQ
In addition to riding Secretariat to the 1973 Triple Crown, Ron Turcotte won over 3,000 races in his career, including two Kentucky Derbys, two Preakness Stakes, and two Belmont Stakes. He also won other major races such as the Canadian International Stakes twice, Kentucky Oaks, Suburban Handicap, and many more. Turcotte was North America’s leading stakes-winning jockey in 1972 and 1973 and received the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1973.
Ron Turcotte's racing career ended in 1978 when he fell from a horse during a race at Belmont Park, resulting in severe injuries that rendered him paraplegic. This accident ended his career as a jockey, although he later became an advocate for disabled jockeys and raised funds to support riders injured in racing.
Ron Turcotte was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 1979. He was the first recipient of the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award for Canadian jockeys in 1983 and became the first thoroughbred racing figure awarded the Order of Canada. He also won the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1973.
Ron Turcotte is remembered as a Canadian icon and one of the greatest jockeys in horse racing history. His legacy includes riding Secretariat to the 1973 Triple Crown with record times that still stand, achieving over 3,000 race wins, pioneering as the first jockey to win five out of six consecutive Triple Crown races, and his advocacy for disabled jockeys following his career-ending accident.
History
- 25d
3 articles