August 24, 2025 
It is inarguably the most iconic image in the history of Thoroughbred racing.
On June 9, 1973 at New York’s Belmont Park, a young man wearing the royal blue-and-white checkered silks of Penny Chenery’s Meadow Farm glances over his left shoulder to locate his rivals in the Belmont Stakes (G1), the third and final leg of America’s Thoroughbred Triple Crown. He’s sees something that had never been seen in racing before or since: His horse, Secretariat, wearing a face mask in those identical Meadow Farm colors, leaving four of the best 3-year-olds in racing that year 31 lengths—253 feet, nearly the length of an American football field—behind on his way to a time-and-distance shattering record for that race.
While Secretariat’s 2:24.0 record time in that 1 1/2 mile Belmont Stakes still stands, along with his record times in that year’s G1 Kentucky Derby (1:59.40) and G1 Preakness Stakes (1:53.0), that young man, Ron Turcotte, has passed away at age 84.
Turcotte’s passing of natural causes at his home in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, Canada was confirmed Friday by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. A statement released read in part:
“Ron was a legendary rider and also an inspiration for all he achieved and overcame during his incredible life. As an ambassador for both the sport and the legacy of the great Secretariat, Ron made countless people into fans of racing through his kindness and the time he gave to all, whether telling stories about Big Red, signing autographs, or posing for pictures. He was a fierce competitor on the track and a gentleman off of it. He will forever be remembered as one of the greats.”
Turcotte was the recipient of many honors. A member of the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame, Turcotte is a member of the Canadian Racing Hall of Fame and the New York Sports Hall of Fame. He received the George Woolf Memorial (Jockey) Award and Sovereign Award, the Canadian equivalent of America’s Eclipse (Jockey) Award. French Canadian Athlete of the Year in 1973, Turcotte was also the first person in Thoroughbred racing appointed to membership in the Order of Canada.
While noted primarily for his relationship with Secretariat, Turcotte had a long and notable riding career. Having spent most of that career in the U.S., Turcotte was Canadian, born in 1941 in Drummond, New Brunswick. While he would come to fame riding America’s most famous horse, his riding career began with him guiding Canada’s most famous horse: Northern Dancer, in a winning ride at Fort Erie in 1963 while still an apprentice jockey.
Turcotte began riding in New York the following year and gained a reputation as one of the finest young jockeys in America. He would win his first Triple Crown race in 1965 aboard Tom Rolfe, the leading colt and sire of his generation and U.S. Champion 3-Year-Old that year.
That success caught the eye of trainer, Lucien Laurin, with whom Turcotte developed a relationship that would lead to his first opportunity on a Meadow Farm, Virginia-bred, Claiborne Farm, Kentucky-owned horse—but not Secretariat, the most famous son of Bold Ruler (out of Somethingroyal by Prince Quillo). Rather it was owner Penny Chenery’s beloved Riva Ridge. Sometimes forgotten because of his more famous successor, Riva Ridge won the 1972 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes with Turcotte aboard, finishing fourth in that year’s Preakness Stakes.
His successes with Riva Ridge and Secretariat aside, Turcotte won 3,032 races over his 18-year riding career and led all riders in stakes wins in 1972 and 1973. American Triple Crown wins aside, other notable wins came in G1s the Kentucky Oaks, the Alabama, the Santa Anita “Big Cap” Handicap, the Wood Memorial and the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
That riding career came to a tragic end July 13, 1978 when Turcotte was involved a fall aboard filly Flag of Leyte Gulf at the same Belmont Park which was the scene of his greatest success. The accident left Turcotte paraplegic.
While left in a wheelchair until his passing, the accident did not end Turcotte’s association with Thoroughbred racing. He became a constant presence at signature races, signing autographs and regaling fans of his exploits aboard Riva Ridge and “Big Red” Secretariat, as well as acting as a prominent spokesperson for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF).
Resettled in Grand Falls, New Brunswick following his accident, that town erected a life-size statue in 2015 of him aboard Secretariat.
“I’ve been the recipient of many honors. To have my own town honor me in this way is very special,” said Turcotte at the time. “It is very touching.”
Turcotte’s passing was preceded by that of Secretariat (1970-89), owner Penny Chenery (1922-2017), trainer Lucien Laurin (1912-2000), groom Eddie Sweat (1939-98) and journalist William “Bill” Nack (1941-2018), the latter of whom wrote what many consider to be the finest single piece of writing about Thoroughbred racing, “Pure Heart,” penned for the June 4, 1990 issue of Sports Illustrated.
Turcotte will be remembered as one of the finest jockeys in Canadian racing history as well as one of America’s finest jockeys and a beloved ambassador of the sport until the time of his passing.
