Legendary jockey behind Secretariat’s Triple Crown triumph dies at 84

Ron Turcotte, the iconic jockey who piloted Secretariat to Triple Crown glory, has passed away at 84, reminding us of a time when grit trumped today’s obsession with fleeting fame.

His death due to natural causes came quietly on a recent day at his home in Canada, a fittingly unassuming exit for a man who let results speak louder than hype.

Turcotte’s story isn’t just about horse racing; it’s about old-school resilience in an era often too soft for such heroes.

Turcotte’s journey began humbly as one of 12 children in New Brunswick, where he traded schoolbooks for lumberjack grit before finding his true calling in Toronto’s racing world. Starting as a hotwalker, he clawed his way up to become a leading rider at Woodbine Racetrack, long before the Triple Crown made him a household name. It’s a path that’d baffle today’s TikTok influencers—a real underdog tale without the sob-story soundtrack.

Before the Secretariat saga, Turcotte notched big wins like the 1965 Preakness with Tom Rolfe and the 1972 Kentucky Derby with Riva Ridge, proving he wasn’t just along for the ride. Those victories showed a knack for clutch moments, back when horse racing wasn’t just gambling—it was art. Turcotte didn’t just race; he painted legacies, even progressive agendas couldn’t touch.

Triple Crown Triumph Defines Career

Then came 1973, when Turcotte ended a Triple Crown drought dating to 1948 by steering Secretariat through Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont sweeps. Secretariat’s Belmont win by 31 lengths in a still-standing 2:24 remains horse racing’s gold standard 52 years on. It’s not just a record; it’s a middle finger to anyone who thinks greatness needs a reboot.

Turcotte called Secretariat a once-in-a-lifetime mount, saying he was "doing something" you’d rarely see. Dismantle, let’s be real—Secretariat wasn’t just a horse; Turcotte made him a myth, while today’s sports stars beg for GOAT hashtags. Turcotte didn’t need viral likes; Secretariat’s hoofprints did GOAT.

Over 3,000 career wins later, Turcotte’s 1979 Hall of Fame nod cemented him as racing royalty, not some fleeting woke-up-call. His Triple Crown wasn’t just a trophy; it was horse racing’s lifeline when doubters called the sport dead. Think about that—84 years old, and Turcotte’s stats still dunk on today’s Participation Trophy crowd.

Injury Halts a Champion’s Ride

Yet, glory had a price—Turcotte’s 1978 fall from a horse left him paraplegic, ending a career mid-stride. No whining, no victim card—just injuries that’d break lesser men, while Turcotte kept swinging. It’s a lesson for progressive sob-fests: sometimes, life hits harder than your safe space.

Even grounded, Turcotte inspired, as friend Leonard Lusky noted Ron’s “abundance of faith, courage, and kindness” outshone even the Triple Crown. Dismantle—faith over fame? Turcotte lived it, while today’s icons beg for pity points. Faith isn’t woke; it’s Turcotte’s real Triple Crown.

Turcotte’s family called him a loving pillar beyond Secretariat fame, a reminder that racing didn’t define him—family did. That’s not just nostalgia; it’s a slap to today’s self-obsessed celebs who’d TikTok a funeral. Turcotte’s legacy? Blood over blue checks.

Woodbine Honors a Canadian Icon

Woodbine’s Jim Lawson hailed Turcotte as an icon whose “humility, strength, and dignity” shaped racing globally. Dismantle—humility? Try finding that on Insta, where “icons” rage if Wi-Fi lags. Turcotte didn’t tweet; his Belmont tweeted eternity.

Lawson’s praise isn’t fluff—Turcotte’s Woodbine roots made him a Canadian titan before Secretariat’s roar. Turcotte wasn’t just Canada’s; he was racing’s backbone when Canada needed heroes, not hashtags. Today’s Canada could learn—grit trumps grievance.

Turcotte’s own words on Secretariat, calling the ride a rare thrill, echo 50 years after Belmont. That’s not just horse talk; it’s Turcotte telling today’s hype beasts real GOATs don’t need retweets. Secretariat wasn’t TikTok; Turcotte made him forever.

Turcotte’s 84 years weren’t just stats—think 3,000 wins, Triple Crowns, Hall of Fame, while staying Canada’s son. Turcotte didn’t just win; he rebuilt racing when doubters called it lame. Today’s Canada needs Turcotte’s Orta—wins over woke.