DRUMMOND, New Brunswick — Ron Turcotte, a legendary horse jockey who in 1973 rode the horse Secretariat into the first American Triple Crown victory in 25 years, died on Friday in Drummond, New Brunswick, his hometown.
Living just across the border, Turcotte regularly visited Maine and was a well-known figure in both the Van Buren and Grand Falls communities. Earlier this year, Maine Gov. Janet Mills issued a special state proclamation honoring his career.
“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my friend, Ron Turcotte, an accomplished jockey and deeply respected member of the Van Buren, Maine and Grand Falls, New Brunswick international communities,” Mills said on Friday.
Van Buren Town Manager Luke Dyer said Turcotte traveled to St. John Valley town nearly every day, frequently dining at Robin’s Restaurant when it was open. More recently, Dyer said Turcotte had been visiting Ouellette’s Trading Post for lunch.
Store owner Peter Ouellette said he had known Turcotte for about 20 years, and that he had been coming to Van Buren since childhood to visit family.
During that time, Oullette said he never once saw Turcotte get angry at another person.
He said Turcotte liked to order poutine, a classic Canadian dish with french fries, cheese curds and hot gravy, and that he also liked to order a good breakfast or soup.
Despite all of Turcotte’s success, Ouellette said that the award-winning jockey was remarkably humble. He never once saw Turcotte get angry with anyone as long as he’d known him.
“If somebody came in for an autograph, he’d give them an autograph and wouldn’t even think twice,” Ouellette said. “Ron had an open heart.”
Ouellette said kids would come into the trading post and Turcotte would gladly spend time talking to them, taking pictures and answering questions about horses.
“People from California and all over the world would come in, and Ron opened right up with them,” Ouellette said. “They’d sit down, and he would be very nice and tell them everything they wanted to know.”
In Grand Falls, a statue was built of Turcotte and Secretariat on Broadway Street. Dyer said on Saturday that he saw people leaving flowers at the statue.
Turcotte was inducted into six different sports Halls of Fame, and received numerous awards throughout his life. In 1974, he was inducted into the Order of Canada, which is the county’s highest honor given to a civilian.
According to a press release from the official Secretariat website, Turcotte’s career ended when he was 36, after he suffered injuries that left him paraplegic for the rest of his life. He spent many years after his racing career making public appearances and raising awareness for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.
Ouellette said that doctors told Turcotte he would never live to be 84, due to his condition. He attributes this to Turcotte’s family taking great care of him, just as Turcotte cared for them throughout his life.
“I have a million stories,” Ouellette said, “but what sticks out is that [Turcotte] was a humble man. He took care of everybody else before he’d take care of himself.”
