Hall of Fame jockey Ron Turcotte, best known for riding the legendary Secretariat to the 1973 Triple Crown, has died at the age of 84. Turcotte passed away of natural causes on Friday, August 22, 2025, at his home in Drummond, New Brunswick, surrounded by his family. News of his passing has sent ripples through the horse racing world and beyond, as fans and colleagues reflect on the remarkable life and legacy of a man whose name became synonymous with greatness, resilience, and humility.
Born on July 22, 1941, in Drummond, Turcotte was the third-oldest of twelve children. His early years were far from the racetrack—he quit school to work as a lumberjack, a job that instilled in him a lifelong connection with horses. That bond would later become the secret to his extraordinary career. "He was very intuitive to what a horse wanted," recalled Leonard Lusky, Turcotte's longtime friend and business partner. Lusky emphasized that Turcotte's touch with horses was rare, a gift that set him apart from his peers.
Turcotte's journey to the pinnacle of horse racing began in Toronto, where he started as a hotwalker before becoming a jockey. His rise was swift and sure. By 1961, he was already making waves, eventually becoming the leading rider at Woodbine Racetrack. Over nearly two decades, Turcotte amassed more than 3,000 victories—3,032 to be exact—and earned over $28.6 million in prize money. His list of accolades is staggering: he was inducted into six different halls of fame, including the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 1979, and received the Order of Canada.
But it was in 1973 that Turcotte etched his name into the annals of sports history. Teaming up with Secretariat, a colt owned by Penny Chenery, Turcotte swept the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes, ending a Triple Crown drought that had lasted since 1948. The duo's performance in the Belmont Stakes remains the stuff of legend—Secretariat thundered to victory by 31 lengths, setting a still-unbroken record time of 2:24 for the 1 1/2-mile distance. "I still had a lot of horse when I passed the wire," Turcotte said in 2023, looking back nearly 50 years. "He was not tired... It was amazing."
Their partnership was more than just business. Turcotte described his connection with Secretariat as "love at first ride." Kate Tweedy, daughter of owner Penny Chenery, praised Turcotte's intuition: "In my mind, one reason he was one of the all-time greatest jockeys is that Ron had great intuition, a gift that led to his intense bond with Secretariat. My mother...believed that this talent enabled him to understand Secretariat and to bring out his best performances in ways no other jockey could have done."
Turcotte's skill was not limited to Secretariat. He piloted other champions, including Tom Rolfe, who won the Preakness in 1965, and Riva Ridge, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes in 1972. He also rode the Hall of Famer Northern Dancer. Yet, despite his success and the fame that followed, Turcotte remained grounded. Lusky noted, "He wore his hall of fame rings with pride, but that was not what he was about...while he appreciated it and certainly enjoyed it, it was the simpler things in life that he liked the most."
Tragedy struck in 1978 at Belmont Park. Turcotte fell early in a race, crushing several vertebrae and becoming paraplegic. His illustrious racing career ended in an instant, but his spirit did not waver. "As long as I knew him, he never felt sorry for himself, he never talked about his injury in a way that would warrant any sort of pity," Lusky said. Instead, Turcotte became a passionate advocate for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, traveling across Canada and the U.S. to raise awareness and support for riders who suffered similar fates. William J. Punk Jr., chairman of the Fund, called Turcotte "one of the sport’s greatest champions and ambassadors."
David O’Rourke, president and CEO of the New York Racing Association, reflected on Turcotte’s legacy: "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. By devoting himself to supporting fellow jockeys struggling through similar injuries, Ron Turcotte built a legacy defined by kindness and compassion."
Turcotte’s humility and warmth became legendary. Lusky recounted a story from the Belmont Stakes: after signing autographs for over ten hours, Turcotte patiently answered a fan’s questions for another hour, never revealing his exhaustion—even when the fan mistook him for another famous jockey, Eddie Arcaro. "Ron looked at me and I looked at him and we had the biggest grin, and we laughed about that...and you know, that says so much about him," Lusky said.
His impact extended beyond the racetrack. Disney immortalized the 1973 Triple Crown victory in the movie "Secretariat," and a bronze statue in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, stands as a testament to his achievements. Despite offers, Turcotte declined movie rights to his own life story, citing his wife’s preference for privacy. He was married for nearly 60 years and leaves behind his wife and four daughters. His family, in a statement through Lusky, said, "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."
Turcotte was the last surviving member of Secretariat’s legendary team. As Lusky, Tweedy, and countless fans mourn his passing, the tributes pouring in speak to a life lived with courage, faith, and a rare generosity of spirit. Woodbine chairman Jim Lawson summed it up: "Ron carried himself with humility, strength and dignity. His legacy in racing, both here at Woodbine and around the world, will live forever."
As the racing world pauses to remember Ron Turcotte, his story remains a testament to the heights that can be reached through talent, heart, and perseverance. Though the man has gone, the legend—and the inspiration—endures.
