Ron Turcotte, jockey who rode Secretariat to Triple Crown, dies at 84

The jockey that rode the legendary racing horse secretariat to the Triple Crown in 1973, Ron Turcotte, died at 84.

Turcotte’s household mentioned by his previous enterprise associate and buddy Leonard Lusky that the Jockey died of pure causes on Friday in his home in Drummond, New Brunswick in Canada.

“Ron was a fantastic jockey and an inspiration for thus many, each inside and outdoors the racing world,” mentioned Lusky. “Whereas he achieved the head of success in his calling, it was his abundance of religion, braveness and kindness that was the true measure of his greatness.”

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Secretariat and Ron Turcotte after successful the Kentucky Derby (Jerry Cooke/Corbis by way of Getty photographs)

He was admitted to the Nationwide Museum of Racing Corridor of Fame in 1979.

“The world could bear in mind Ron because the well-known Jockey of the Secretariat, however for us he was a fantastic husband, a loving father, grandfather and a fantastic rider.” The Turcotte household mentioned in a press release by Lusky.

Turcotte received greater than 3,000 races, however his profession led to 1978 when he requested a horse’s race and sustained accidents as a result of he turned a parapegic.

Turcotte received the Kentucky Derby, preakness and Belmont Stakes twice every, specifically the three sweeps with secretariat to finish the triple crowner of Horse Racing that dates from quote in 1948. Secretariaat’s document time of two:24 within the Belmont, who nonetheless win 31 lengths, nonetheless 52 years later.

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Secretariat walks previous a crowd throughout a race in 1973. (Jerry Cooke/Sports activities Illustrated by way of Getty Pictures)

Turcotte was born in Drummond on July 22, 1941, as one of many 12 kids. He stopped faculty to work as a lumberjack earlier than transferring to Toronto to become involved in horse races, first as a hotwalker after which as a jockey and have become the main racer racrack earlier than he rises to the three -part crown stage.

Woodbine chairman Jim Lawson mentioned that Turcotte ‘an actual Canadian icon was whose affect on horse races is immeasurable’.

“Ron wore himself with humility, power and dignity,” Lawson mentioned. “His property in racing, each right here at Woodbine and everywhere in the world, will dwell eternally.”

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Individuals collect round a huge statue of Secretariat in Belmont Park in 2023, whereas celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the Secretariat within the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, NY (Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday RM by way of Getty photographs)

Turcotte received the preakness in 1965 on board Tom Rolfe and the derby in 1972 with Riva Ridge. Nevertheless it was his time with the secretariat who made Turcotte a family identify in racing, and he known as it “love on the primary journey.”

“He was the kind of horse that you’ll by no means see once more,” Turcotte mentioned in 2023, virtually 50 years to the day because the secretariat within the Belmont. “He did one thing that you’ve got by no means seen earlier than and can most likely by no means see once more.”

The Related Press has contributed to this report.

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