Ron Turcotte

A horseman from a standardbred tradition. Ron spent much time at small tracks on his way to the show. Breaking his back did not make him better, but easier to forgive. He rode hard and loved the work. I met him at the Kentucky Derby a decade after his injury. Nice man, very quiet, and humble. Sure gave us a thrill on big red.

Ron Turcotte was a great rider and a great gentleman. I lived in Elmont all my young life and was at Belmont the day he rode Secretariat to win the Triple Crown. It was the first time I had ever been to the racetrack in my life. I worked for Lucien Laurin briefly the year after as a lowly hot walker for a summer job and met him, Eddie Maple and many other jockeys . He could ride! He was a true horseman and always gave an honest ride. Ron Turcotte was certainly a cut above the rest.

LOYAL-RELIABLE-A TRUE HORSEMAN AS GOOD AS ANY JOCKEY AND BETTER THAN MOST, A $2.00 BETERS BEST FRIEND HE RODE ALL HORSES IN ALL RACES AS IF IT WAS THE KY DERBY, ALWAYS GAVE HIS BEST-TOUGH-STRONG FEAR NO HORSE OR RIDER HE DEFINITELY WAS A GREAT RIDER AND A TRUE HALL of FAMER

Was not great, but he was very good.

Ron Turcotte was a great jockey and a true Hall of Famer. And riding the greatest racehorse ever, Secretariat, only enhanced Turcotte's place in history. Modest and underrated, he was yet every bit the tactician Bill Shoemaker was on the track. Simply, he was exceptional.