Grand Falls in Victoria County, New Brunswick — The Atlantic Provinces (North America)

Ron Turcotte

Canada's greatest jockey / Le plus grand jockey canadien

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 18, 2018

1. Ron Turcotte Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Born and raised in Drummond NB, Ron Turcotte was going to be a lumberjack, but fate played a role when he took charge of the logging horses, where he learned his legendary horsemanship.

In Toronto, he worked for Windfields Farm then later for Gordon Huntley. The natural born jockey was leading rider his first two-year in Canada and rode the great champion Northern Dancer.

Turcotte then moved to the United States and was among the top riders wherever he rode. Ron won the Preakness in 1965 with Tom Rolfe then the Derby and the Belmont with Riva Ridge in 1972. He then guided Secretariat to become the only two-year-old to ever be named Horse of the Year.

Never has a horse and a rider combined so well as to capture the imagination of the public. In 1973, Turcotte and Secretariat did just that when they won the coveted Triple Crown in record-breaking fashion. In 1974, Turcotte received the country's highest civilian honor when he was made a Member of the Order of Canada.

In 1978, a tumble at Belmont Park ended Ron's career. It did not end his zest for life and his ability to inspire those who know his story.
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Originaire

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de Drummond N.-B. Ron Turcotte est destine a devenir bucheron, mais le vent tourne lorsqu'il prend en charge les chevaux de chantier. C'est a ce moment qu'il developpe une affinite pour les chevaux.

A Toronto, il est engage par Windfields Farm et ensuite par Gordon Huntley. Il fait vite ses preuves, devient Champion du Canada deux annees consecutives et monte le legendaire Northern Dancer.

Turcotte demenage aux Etats-Unis et se classe parmi les meilleurs jockeys partout ou il competitionne. Ron remporte le Preakness en 1965 avec Tom Rolfe. En 1972, il gagne le Derby et le Belmont avec Riva Ridge et guide Secretariat qui devient le seul cheval de deux ans nomme Cheval de l'Annee.

Ron et Secretariat captivent l'imagination du public. En 1973, ils gagnent la Triple Couronne et fracassent des records dans le trois courses: le Derby, le Preakness et le Belmont Stakes. En 1974, Ron est decore de l'Ordre du Canada, le plus grand honneur civil au pays.

En 1978, la carriere hippique de Ron se termine par une chute au Parc Belmont. Il n'a perdu ni sa joie de vivre, ni sa capacite d'inspirer tous ceux qui connaissent son histoire.
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Major Racing Wins / Courses majeures gagnees
Breeders' Stakes (1962) • Coronation Futurity Stakes (1963)
Toronto Autumn

Ron Turcotte Marqueur image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 18, 2018

2. Ron Turcotte Marqueur

Cup (1963) • Canadian International Stakes (1964 & 1971)
Kentucky Oaks (1965) • Suburban Handicap (1966)
Sport Page Handicap (1966) • Tremont Stakes (1967)
Bernard Baruch Handicap (1967) • Selima Stakes (1968)
Manitoba Centennial Derby (1970) • Diana Handicap (1970, 1971 & 1976)
Quebec Derby (1970) • Beldame Stakes (1970)
Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (1970) • Jockey Club Gold Cup (1970)
Withers Stakes (1970) • Hialeah Turf Series (1970)
Alabama Stakes (1970 & 1972) • Flash Stakes (1971)
Belmont Futurity Stakes (1971 & 1972) • Champagne Stakes (1971)
Gotham Stakes (1971 & 1973) • Laurel Futurity (1971 & 1972)
Blue Grass Stakes (1972) • Coaching Club American Oaks (1972)
Florida Derby (1972) • Hopeful Stakes (1972) • Hollywood Derby (1972)
Manhattan Handicap (1972) • Monmouth Oaks (1972)
Sanford Stakes (1972) • Wood Memorial Stakes (1972)
Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (1972) • Bay Shore Stakes (1973 & 1975)
Marlboro Cup (1973) • Spinaway Stakes (1973)
Massachusetts Handicap (1973 & 1974) • Brooklyn Handicap (1973)
Excelsior Handicap (1973) • Man O' War Stakes (1973 & 1974)
Matron Stakes (1973) • Travers Stakes (1973)
Hawthorne Derby (1974) • Dwyer Stakes (1974)
Santa Anita Handicap (1974) • Cornhusker Handicap (1975)
Queens County Handicap (1975) • American Derby (1976)
Aqueduct

Ron Turcotte Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 18, 2018

3. Ron Turcotte Monument

Handicap (1976) • Stymie Stakes (1976 & 1977)
Sorority Stakes (1977) • Alcibiades Stakes (1977)
Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (1977) • Adirondack Stakes (1977)
Cup and Saucer Stakes (1977) • Schuylerville Stakes (1977)
Stars and Stripes Turf Handicap (1978)
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Significant Horses / Chevaux importants
L'Alezane, Crafty Lace, Dahlia, Damascus, Dark Mirage, Fanfreluche, Fort March, Key to the Mint, La Prevoyante, Northern Dancer, Quadrangle, Politely, Riva Ridge, Secretariat, Shuvee, Summer Guest, Talking Picture, Tom Rolfe, Upper Case
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American Classic Races Won / Courses classiques americaines gagnees
Kentucky Derby 1972 & 1973 • Preakness 1965 & 1973 • Belmont Stakes 1972 & 1973

In 1973, Ron Turcotte guided Secretariat to become the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years, establishing a new track record in each of the three races.

En 1973, Ron Turcotte et Secretariat deviennent les premiers vainqueurs de la Triple Couronne en 25 ans, etablissant par le meme occasion un record dans chacune des trois courses.
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Honours

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 18, 2018

4. Ron Turcotte Sculpture

/ Honneurs
New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame (1973)
Big Sport of Turfdom Award (1978)
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame (1979)
Long Island Sports Hall of Fame (1979)
George Woolf Memorial Award (1979)
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame (1980)
Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (1980)
Avelino Gomez Memorial Award (1984)
Hawthorne Racing Hall of Fame (1986)
New York Sports Museum Hall of Fame (1993)
Grand Falls Hall of Fame (2012)
Maritime Sport Hall of Fame (2014)

Erected 2015 by the Town of Grand Falls and Concerned Citizens and Organizations.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Entertainment • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1965.

Location. 47° 2.718′ N, 67° 44.702′ W. Marker is in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, in Victoria County. Marker is at the intersection of Broadway Boulevard (New Brunswick Route 130) and Main Street, in the median on Broadway Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Grand Falls NB E3Z 2J7, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Fort Carleton (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); World Wars Memorial (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Acadia of the Lands and Forests / l'Acadie des terres et forêts

Ron Turcotte Monument QR Code image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 18, 2018

5. Ron Turcotte Monument QR Code

(approx. 0.6 kilometers away); World War I Memorial (approx. 0.7 kilometers away); World War II Memorial (approx. 0.7 kilometers away); German 77mm Gun (approx. 0.7 kilometers away); O. B. Davis Park and Lovers' Lane (approx. 0.8 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grand Falls.

Also see . . .
1. Ron Turcotte Bio at Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. (Submitted on October 25, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Ron Turcotte monument to be unveiled in Grand Falls (CBC, 2015). (Submitted on October 25, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Ron Turcotte Honored with Monument in Hometown of Grand Falls, New Brunswick. (Submitted on October 25, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 26, 2018. It was originally submitted on October 25, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 289 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 26, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.