Ron Turcotte facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ron TurcotteCM ONB |
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Turcotte at Saratoga Race Course in 2017
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| Occupation | Jockey |
| Born | July 22, 1941 Drummond, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Died | August 22, 2025 (aged 84) Drummond, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Career wins | 3,032 |
| Major racing wins | |
| Breeders' Stakes (1962) Coronation Futurity Stakes (1963) Toronto Autumn Cup (1963) Canadian International Stakes (1964, 1971) Lexington Handicap (1964, 1974) Kentucky Oaks (1965) Sport Page Handicap (1966) Palm Beach Handicap (1966, 1967, 1969, 1970) Suburban Handicap (1966) Bernard Baruch Handicap (1967) Tremont Stakes (1967) National Stallion Stakes (1968) Bahamas Stakes (1969) Beldame Stakes (1970) Diana Handicap (1970, 1971, 1976) Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (1970, 1979) Jockey Club Gold Cup (1970) Withers Stakes (1970) Alabama Stakes (1971) Flash Stakes (1971) Belmont Futurity Stakes (1971, 1972) Champagne Stakes (1971) Gotham Stakes (1971, 1973) Laurel Futurity (1971, 1972) Blue Grass Stakes (1972) Coaching Club American Oaks (1972) Florida Derby (1972) Great American Stakes (1972) Hopeful Stakes (1972) Hollywood Derby (1972) Manhattan Handicap (1972) Monmouth Oaks (1972) Sanford Stakes (1972) Wood Memorial Stakes (1972) Brooklyn Handicap (1973) Excelsior Breeders' Cup Handicap (1973) Man O' War Stakes (1973, 1974) Matron Stakes (1973) Travers Stakes (1973) Dwyer Stakes (1974) Edgemere Handicap (1974, 1976) Santa Anita Handicap (1974) Cornhusker Handicap (1975) Queens County Handicap (1975) American Derby (1976) Aqueduct Handicap (1976) Stymie Handicap (1976, 1977) Alcibiades Stakes (1977) Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (1977) Adirondack Stakes (1977) Cup and Saucer Stakes (1977) Schuylerville Stakes (1977) Stars and Stripes Turf Handicap (1978) American Classic Race wins: |
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| Racing awards | |
| Leading jockey at Woodbine Racetrack (1962, 1963) Canadian Racing's Man-of-the-Year (1978) Big Sport of Turfdom Award (1978) George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award (1979) Avelino Gomez Memorial Award (1984) |
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| Honours | |
| New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame (1973) Order of Canada (1974) National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame (1979) New York Sports Hall of Fame Canada's Sports Hall of Fame (1980) Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (1980) Hawthorne Racing Hall of Fame (1986) Paul Harris Fellowship Long Island Sports Hall of Fame (1990) |
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| Significant horses | |
| Arts and Letters, Crafty Lace, Dahlia, Damascus, Dark Mirage, Fanfreluche, Fort Marcy, Northern Dancer, Politely, Quadrangle, Riva Ridge, Secretariat, Shuvee, Tom Rolfe, Upper Case |
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Ronald Joseph Morel Turcotte (July 22, 1941 – August 22, 2025) was a famous Canadian jockey. He was best known for riding the incredible horse Secretariat. Together, they won the U.S. Triple Crown in 1973. This was a huge achievement in horse racing!
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Who Was Ron Turcotte?
Ron Turcotte was a legendary figure in thoroughbred horse racing. He was born in Drummond, New Brunswick, Canada. Ron became one of the most successful jockeys of his time. His skill and connection with horses led him to many victories.
Early Life and Start in Racing
Ron Turcotte grew up in a large family. He was one of twelve children. At just 14 years old, he left school to work with his father. They worked as lumberjacks in the forests. When he was 18, Ron moved to Toronto to find work.
In 1960, Ron began his career in horse racing. He started as a "hot walker" at E. P. Taylor's Windfields Farm. A hot walker helps cool down horses after exercise. Soon, Ron was riding horses in races. He quickly started winning! As a young jockey, he rode Northern Dancer to its first victory.
Riding to Fame: The Triple Crown Winner
Ron Turcotte became well-known in 1965. He won the Preakness Stakes riding a horse named Tom Rolfe. He then started working with Canadian trainer Lucien Laurin. Their partnership led to many successes.
In 1972, Ron rode Riva Ridge to two big wins. They won the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes. These are two of the three races in the Triple Crown.
The year 1973 was truly special for Ron Turcotte. He rode the amazing horse Secretariat. Together, they won the Triple Crown. This means they won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes all in the same year! It was the first Triple Crown win in 25 years. Secretariat set new records in each race. In the Belmont Stakes, Secretariat finished an incredible 31 lengths ahead of other horses. A famous photo shows Ron looking back at the far-behind horses.
Ron was the top jockey for stakes races in 1972 and 1973. He was also the first jockey since 1902 to win back-to-back Kentucky Derbies. He was also the first to win five out of six Triple Crown races in a row. This incredible feat was later matched in 2015.
A Champion's Legacy and Later Life
Ron Turcotte received many honors for his achievements. He was given the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. This award celebrates jockeys who show great sportsmanship. He was also the first person from horse racing to join the Order of Canada. This is a very high honor in Canada.
Ron's racing career ended on July 13, 1978. He had an accident during a race at Belmont Park. He was seriously injured and used a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Even after his accident, Ron continued to inspire many people.
He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1979. He also joined Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1980. In 1984, he received the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award. This award honors Canadian jockeys who have made big contributions to the sport. In 2015, a statue of Secretariat and Ron Turcotte was unveiled. It shows them crossing the finish line at the Belmont Stakes. The statue is in Ron's hometown of Grand Falls, New Brunswick.
Ron Turcotte lived in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, with his wife Gaëtane and their four daughters. He was a strong supporter for people with disabilities. He helped raise money for programs that assist them. He also made appearances at racetracks. He helped raise awareness and funds for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF). This fund helps jockeys who have been injured.
In March 2015, Ron was in a car accident. He sustained fractures to both of his legs. Ron Turcotte passed away at his home in Drummond, New Brunswick, on August 22, 2025. He was 84 years old.
Ron Turcotte in Movies and Documentaries
Ron Turcotte's life and career have been featured in media. In the 2010 Disney movie Secretariat, a real-life jockey named Otto Thorwarth played Ron.
A documentary film about Ron's life was also made. It was called Secretariat's Jockey, Ron Turcotte. The film was directed by Phil Comeau. It premiered in May 2013 in Louisville, Kentucky.
