Ron Turcotte, the legendary jockey whose name is forever linked with Secretariat and the 1973 Triple Crown, has died at the age of 84 at his home in Drummond, New Brunswick. The news, confirmed by his family through longtime business partner Leonard Lusky, marks the end of an era for horse racing fans across the globe. Turcotte’s passing on August 22, 2025, from natural causes, closes the final chapter on the remarkable team that guided Secretariat to immortality.
Turcotte’s career is the stuff of racing legend. Born in Drummond on July 22, 1941, as one of twelve children, he quit school at 14 to work as a lumberjack alongside his father. But the call of the racetrack soon proved too strong. Turcotte began his racing life in 1959 as a hot walker—a humble and grueling job on the backside of the track—at E. P. Taylor's Windfield Farm in Toronto. He steadily climbed the ranks, becoming the leading rider at Woodbine Racetrack and eventually finding his way to the U.S. racing circuit.
His first taste of major glory came as an apprentice jockey when he rode Northern Dancer, one of the sport’s greatest sires, to his first victory. Turcotte’s winning ways continued when he captured the 1965 Preakness Stakes aboard Tom Rolfe. But it was his partnership with trainer Lucien Laurin that set the stage for history. In 1972, Turcotte piloted Riva Ridge to wins in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, breaking a long drought for Laurin and owner Penny Chenery. Yet, the so-called "Triple Crown jinx" remained—until Secretariat arrived.
In 1973, Turcotte and Secretariat stunned the racing world. The duo swept the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and then the Belmont Stakes, ending a 25-year Triple Crown drought that dated back to Citation in 1948. Secretariat’s Belmont performance remains the gold standard: a record-shattering time of 2:24 for the mile-and-a-half, with a jaw-dropping 31-length margin of victory. The image of Turcotte glancing over his shoulder as "Big Red" powered down the stretch is etched in racing lore. Secretariat still holds the record for fastest time in all three Triple Crown races—a feat unmatched to this day.
Turcotte’s Hall of Fame career spanned 18 years, during which he amassed 3,032 victories and more than $28.6 million in career earnings. He was America’s leading stakes-winning jockey in 1972 and 1973, becoming the first jockey since Jimmy Winkfield in 1902 to win the Kentucky Derby back-to-back. His peers and fans alike admired not only his skill and competitive fire but also his humility and storytelling ability. Legendary jockey Pat Day remembered, "He put his arm around my shoulder and embraced me when I first came up there, showed me the ropes... He was a good storyteller."
But Turcotte’s journey was not without hardship. In July 1978, during the eighth race at Belmont Park, he was thrown from his mount, Flag of Leyte Gulf, just 40 yards out of the starting gate. The accident left him a paraplegic, abruptly ending his racing career. Turcotte reflected on the event with characteristic grace: "Am I angry? No. Am I bitter? No. For some reason or another, with the help of God, I guess, I never thought 'Why me?' I guess you gotta have help sometimes, and God gave me the help to cope with it. I say, 'Well, why not me?'"
Despite the life-altering injury, Turcotte’s spirit never wavered. He became a tireless advocate for disabled jockeys, working closely with the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund and making countless appearances at racetracks to raise funds and awareness for injured riders. "Ron’s tireless advocacy and efforts on behalf of his fellow fallen rider is beyond measure," the Board of Directors of the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund said. William J. Punk, the Fund’s chairman, called Turcotte "one of the sport’s greatest champions and ambassadors."
Turcotte’s accolades continued off the track. He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1979, and into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1980. He became the first person in thoroughbred racing to be appointed a member of the Order of Canada, cementing his status as a national icon. Woodbine chairman Jim Lawson called Turcotte “a true Canadian icon whose impact on horse racing is immeasurable. Ron carried himself with humility, strength and dignity. His legacy in racing, both here at Woodbine and around the world, will live forever.”
Above all, Turcotte’s family remembers him not just as a jockey but as a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and horseman. In a statement through Lusky, the Turcotte family shared: "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." Lusky added, “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.”
Turcotte was the last surviving member of Secretariat’s legendary team. Secretariat passed away in 1989, with other key figures—groom Eddie Sweat, trainer Lucien Laurin, owner Penny Chenery, and exercise rider Charlie Davis—having since died as well. Turcotte’s connection to Secretariat remained strong throughout his life. He often recalled their partnership with deep affection, once saying, "It was love at first ride." In 2023, nearly 50 years after the Belmont, Turcotte remarked, "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."
Turcotte’s story is one of perseverance, humility, and an unwavering love for the sport. His impact on horse racing—and on those who followed his journey—will be felt for generations. As Pat Day poignantly noted, "He’s no longer in that wheelchair. He’s running and romping on streets of gold, and for that I rejoice." Turcotte’s memory gallops on, forever a pillar of the turf.
