Gallery 2 - Sense of belonging and taking roots into Greater Madawaska (1860-1960)
16. Drummond
Ron Turcotte (am_2319)
Born at Davis Mill in the parish of Drummond in 1941, Ron Turcotte is the third of the twelve
children of Fred Turcotte and Rose Devost. In 1960, Ron went to Toronto, then to Woodbine where he
found a job at E. P. Taylor's Windfield farm. The trainer Gordon Huntley encourages Ron to ride
horses and, in doing so, he rapidly became a famous jockey and a champion of Canada three times. In
1963, Ron tried his luck in the United States and his celebrity status continued to grow. In 1965,
he married Gaëtane Morin from Drummond and they had four daughters: Lynn, Ann, Tina and Tammy. In
the course of a 17 year career, Ron won 3032 horse races. In 1972, he rode Riva Ridge and won the
Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. The next year, he rode Secretariat and won the Triple Crown of
the United States which are the Preakness Stakes, the Kentucky Derby ane the Belmont Stakes. An
accident occurred at the Belmont track in 1978 putting an end to one of the most brilliant jockey
careers in America. Ron is a member of the three American Sports Hall of Fame and four Canadian
Sports Hall of Fame. He received several prestigious prizes and is the only jockey to be a member of
the Order of Canada. Photo taken in 1969. Lent by Ron and Gaëtane Turcotte. (Reproduction of this
photo is restricted without authorization.)
