Big Red raced his way into the hearts of Americans. Nobody had a better view of Secretariat’s run to glory than Ron Turcotte. The Hall of Fame jockey passed away on Friday. He was 84. The industry spent the early summer mourning the loss of D. Wayne Lukas, arguably the most impactful trainer in the […]
Big Red raced his way into the hearts of Americans. Nobody had a better view of Secretariat’s run to glory than Ron Turcotte. The Hall of Fame jockey passed away on Friday. He was 84.
The industry spent the early summer mourning the loss of D. Wayne Lukas, arguably the most impactful trainer in the sport over the last 50 years. Turcotte should be considered one of the most impactful jockeys in modern horse racing history, and it’s not just for his impressive racing resume.
The Canadian first entered the circuit in the 60s and found his breakthrough by winning the 1965 Kentucky Oaks. Turcotte took to the NYRA tracks, where he became a New York racing stable. It culminated with one of the most miraculous two-years runs in horse racing history.
Turcotte received the ride for Riva Ridge in the 1972 Kentucky Derby. The two also teamed up for a Belmont win. Around that same time, Turcotte was getting to know Secretariat.
What some people may not realize is that Big Red was just as good of a two-year-old as he was as a three-year-old. Turcotte got the mount in Secretariat’s third start. They won six of seven starts to earn Horse of the Year honors.
It was hard to live up to that hype, but Turcotte and Secretariat did just that. Coming off a third-place finish in the Wood Memorial, Secretariat captured the Kentucky Derby in record time (1:59 2/5), a record that still stands today. After a clocking controversy in a Preakness win, Turcotte was ready to see Secretariat reach his full potential in the final gem of the Triple Crown.
“After the Preakness timing controversy, I wanted Secretariat to set a record that would stand a long time. With 70 yards to go, I chirped to him to make sure he did not lose focus. He responded by finding still another gear,” Turcotte recalled in 2018.
“Sure that the race was won, that Secretariat would be the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years, I was able to soak in everything. The crowd that was going wild. The teletimer. Track announcer Chic Anderson’s memorable race call. ‘Secretariat is widening now. He is moving like a tremendous machine!’”
What a tremendous machine.
Turcotte was the last surviving connection of Secretariat’s. He rode the horse five more times for three wins before the world’s most beloved horse retired to Claiborne Farm.
[READ Pure Heart: The thrilling life and emotional death of Secretariat]
Turcotte won more than 3,000 races before his 18-year career was cut short. In 1978, he was thrown off a filly at Belmont Park. The injuries left him a paraplegic.
Rather than wallow in misery, he used his disability to advocate and raise awareness for others who suffered injuries on the job. He was one of the most outspoken ambassadors for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.
“Ron was a great jockey and an inspiration to so many, both within and outside the racing world. While he reached the pinnacle of success in his vocation, it was his abundance of faith, courage, and kindness that was the true measure of his greatness,” said his long-time friend and business partner, Leonard Lusky.
Turcotte was entered into the Order of Canada in 1974, the nation’s highest civilian honor. He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 1979. Statues of Turcotte can be found at Saratoga Race Course and in Lexington at the intersection of Old Frankfort Pike and Alexandria Ave.
Category: General Sports
