Ron Turcotte, the legendary jockey who guided Secretariat to an unforgettable Triple Crown victory in 1973, passed away on Friday at the age of 84. His death was confirmed by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, which remembered him not only as one of the sport’s finest riders, but also as a man whose life embodied resilience, grace, and inspiration. “Ron was a legendary rider and also an inspiration for all he achieved and overcame during his incredible life,” the Hall of Fame said. “Although best known for sweeping the Triple Crown with Secretariat—culminating with a 31-length victory in the Belmont Stakes—Turcotte’s Hall of Fame career spanned 18 years and more than 3,000 wins. He made countless people into fans of racing through his kindness, his willingness to share stories, and the generosity of his time. Fierce on the track, he was a gentleman off it. He will forever be remembered as one of the game’s greats.”
Turcotte’s career remains one of the most storied in racing history. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979, he recorded 3,032 victories, but it was his partnership with Secretariat that cemented his place in sporting immortality. Interestingly, Turcotte was not the colt’s original jockey—Secretariat’s first two races were ridden by apprentice Paul Feliciano. Turcotte took over in a 1972 allowance race at Saratoga, and together he and “Big Red” forged one of the greatest runs the sport has ever seen.
Their dominance began quickly. Under Turcotte’s hand, Secretariat captured the Sanford, the Hopeful, the Futurity, the Laurel Futurity, and the Garden State Stakes as a two-year-old, earning Horse of the Year honors in 1972. The following season brought even greater glory. With Turcotte in the irons, Secretariat swept the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes, ending a 25-year Triple Crown drought. The Belmont, won by an astonishing 31 lengths, remains one of the most iconic performances in all of sports.
Turcotte recalled the race decades later, describing the moment when he realized that Secretariat was pulling away in a way no horse ever had. “I knew we were putting Sham and the rest far behind us with Secretariat’s long, loping strides,” he said. “I peeked, and the other horses must have been 15–20 lengths behind. Now the only race was against the clock.” That day, Secretariat didn’t just win—he transcended sport. As announcer Chic Anderson famously called, the horse “was moving like a tremendous machine,” and Turcotte was the one guiding him every step of the way.
Even before Secretariat, Turcotte had already carved out an impressive career. He won his first race in 1962 and quickly rose through the ranks. In 1963, he rode the great Northern Dancer to victory in the colt’s debut. By 1965, he had captured his first Triple Crown race, winning the Preakness on Tom Rolfe. His skill and consistency brought him to New York, where he connected with trainer Lucien Laurin. That partnership produced another champion in Riva Ridge, who carried Turcotte to victories in the 1972 Kentucky Derby and Belmont. The following year, Secretariat came along, and Turcotte became the first jockey in 70 years to win back-to-back Derbies.
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