Ron Turcotte, Secretariat Jockey, Dies at 84 from natural causes

Ron Turcotte, the Hall of Fame jockey who guided Secretariat to horse racing’s iconic 1973 Triple Crown, died Friday at his home in Drummond, New Brunswick, at the age of 84 from natural causes. His passing ends the life of a rider whose partnership with Secretariats defined an era, delivering a record Belmont Stakes victory by 31 lengths and leaving an enduring legacy in the sport both on and off the track.

Turcotte’s career spanned 18 years and produced more than 3,000 wins. Inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1979, he is best remembered as Secretariat’s primary rider after taking the mounted duties in 1972. He did not ride Secretariat in the horse’s first races, but after stepping in during a 1972 allowance race at Saratoga, Turcotte partnered with Secretariat for a remarkable sequence of races over the next 18 outings, helping elevate the horse to stardom. The duo’s breakout on the national stage culminated in Secretariat’s historic 1973 Triple Crown run, anchored by a Belmont Stakes performance that remains a benchmark for speed and dominance.

Turcotte’s journey to the top of the sport began far from the bright lights of the U.S. racing circuit....