Ron Turcotte, the renowned temple jockey that set up the 1973 Triple Crown secretariat, died at 84 on Friday.
Turcotte died of natural causes at his home in Drummond, New Brunswick, according to his family.
“The world may remember Ron as the famous jockey of the secretariat, but for us, he was a wonderful husband, a loving father, a grandfather and a great rider,” the Turcotte family said in a press release.
Especially known for his achievements at the top of the secretariat, Turcotte guided the Colt to the victories of Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in 1973. The secretariat established speed records in the three races, including a 31 length victory at Belmont which remains unrelated.
Turcotte began his career in the 1960s and won his first major victory in the 1965 Preakness aboard Tom Rolfe. He also won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes in 1972 with Riva Ridge.
His driving career ended in 1978 after a fall during a race in Belmont Park left him paralyzed.
Turcotte won 3,032 races during a career that lasted nearly two decades and was inducted into the National Race Museum and the renowned temple in 1979 and the Canada Sports Fame of Sports in 1980.
– Field level media
