The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame is deeply saddened to learn of CHRHF Honoured Member Ron Turcotte’s recent passing. Inducted to the CHRHF in 1980, Mr. Turcotte was an icon in Thoroughbred racing, with deep Canadian roots. After spending his early days in New Brunswick, he moved to Ontario, initially working at E. P. Taylor’s Windfield Farms as a hotwalker before he started riding. As an apprentice jockey he rode the great Northern Dancer to his first victory and in 1962 and 1963 he was named Canada’s top jockey.
In 1972 he rode Riva Ridge to victories in the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes. The following year he became the first jockey in 70 years to ride Kentucky Derby-winning horses in consecutive years: in 1973 he was aboard Secretariat, the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years. Both horses were trained by CHRHF Honoured Member Lucien Lauren.
The years 1972 and 1973 were Turcotte’s best as he was the leading stakes-winning jockey on the continent both years. The following year the Hon. Jules Leger, Governor-General of Canada, invested jockey Turcotte as a Member of the Order of Canada. He was the first person associated with thoroughbred racing in Canada so honored. He was also named French-Canadian athlete of the year and was the first winner of the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award in 1984.
Over his career, his mounts amassed $28,606,490 in earnings. Unfortunately, Turcotte’s career came to a sudden end on July 13, 1978, when a fall during a race at New York’s Belmont Park left him paralyzed from the waist down. Despite his injury Ron would travel to racing related events, throughout North America, especially for special anniversaries or commemorations of his achievements with Secretariat.
The CHRHF was honoured to have Ron Turcotte in attendance at the 2013 Induction ceremony, the year both Secretariat and his close friend Bruce Walker who was enshrined to the Hall’s Communicator Category, were inducted. In speaking with Walker, following Turcotte’s passing, he stated “I was just looking at the picture from my Hall of Fame induction when Ronnie presented my ring. Ronnie was, without question, one of the greatest jockeys of all time.”
Walker also noted that he and his close friend often reminisced about being among the few “who could remember races from days gone by. I wish I had taped those talks. I’m so happy I was able to spend time with him in Grand Falls for the unveiling of the Secretariat statue in 2015. As I said in my speech that day; they were together again, forever”.
A few short weeks ago, on what was his 84th birthday, a statue of Ron Turcotte was installed at the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, located at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto.
His passing is a great personal loss to all who knew and admired him both in the racing industry and beyond.