Legendary jockey Ron Turcotte, who rode Secretariat, dies at 84

His family has announced that the Hall of Fame jockey who clinched the Triple Crown on the back of Secretariat died at his home last week.

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The jockey who rode Secretariat to not just victory but a level of dominance that horse tracks have not seen since has died at the age of 84. His family made the announcement after his passing at home in Drummond, New Brunswick.

Ron Turcotte rode Secretariat in the 1973 Triple Crown, setting multiple records in all three legs of the race that still stand today. His Triple Crown victory put an end to horse racing's 25-year Triple Crown drought, according to his family.

Turcotte was inducted into six different sports Halls of Fame, including the National Museum of Racing Hall of fame and Canada's Sports Hall of fame, his family shared.

His career as a jockey ended in 1978, when a fall from a horse at Belmont Park, the same track as the greatest performance of his career, rendered him a paraplegic.

After his injury, Turcotte spent much of his time raising awareness for the Permanently Disabled Jockey's Fund (PDJF).

His family has asked for privacy as they plan his funeral. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to PDJF in his honor.

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