Ron Turcotte Funeral Services Eulogy
For those who wish to receive a complimentary Memorial Card, please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the address below, while quantities last: Ron Turcotte Family c/o Secretariat.com P.O. Box 4865, Louisville, KY 40204
"Good Afternoon" everyone, this is my father’s greeting any time after 8 am. I would like to thank all of the family and friends who have taken time today to honor my father.
“Remarkable,” “Inspiring,” “Renowned Canadian Icon.”
These are terms used to describe my father, and these are all accurate and yet do not fully begin to describe all he was. I cannot list all his accomplishments, I only have 5 or so minutes, I encourage you to Google or YouTube him, if you have a few hours.
He was a loving son, brother, husband, pepere, and friend. These are the roles that defined him, and he was also a Hall of Fame jockey—the man who rode the greatest Thoroughbred racehorse of all time.
Like many athletes, Dad’s job kept him away from home, so the moments we had together were busy but meaningful. Camping, fishing, snowmobiling and going with him to the racetrack in the mornings whenever we could—my sisters and I will cherish those times forever.
Summers in Saratoga, upstate New York, were some of our happiest memories. He would wake us up early to proudly show off his “catch of the day”—which, at ten years old, was not nearly as thrilling to us as it was to him.
He worked through many injuries and illnesses, but every fall he would come down with the same two-week “cold.” Mom would pack him bright orange clothes, and off he’d go on his “retreat” to New Brunswick. He’d always return miraculously healthy—and with our freezer full of meat for the winter.
After his accident—an accident that could have left him bitter—he never asked, “Why me?” Instead, he said, “Why not me?” He thanked God each morning for the gift of opening his eyes and enjoying another day with family and friends. In the hospital, nurses said he was an inspiration to others, with his optimism and determination to recover. That strength gave him a passion to help those in similar situations.
He tirelessly attended events for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, along with countless other organizations.
That drive and work ethic are gifts he passed down to my sisters and I.
He even bought farm animals before we had a barn, ensuring that we would be accountable for their care rather than “running amuck.” Those summers, with our cousins helping on the farm, gave us some of our best memories.
Our house was always full of love and laughter. His wit showed itself often—for example, when I was a teenager and told him I was buying a motorcycle. After debating the costs, he said, “Well, you can’t afford the apartment.” I asked, “What apartment?” and he simply replied, “The one you’ll need, because you’re not living here with a motorcycle.” That was his love language, making sure to keep us safe.
He continued to travel for years—to big races, to events, to the Secretariat Festival. Even when we asked him to slow down, he refused, saying he owed it to Secretariat’s fans and to the sport of Thoroughbred racing.
There’s a story many may not know. Dad loved Secretariat deeply. In Saratoga, he rode him in a race he believed the horse should not have been entered in. He pleaded with them not to run him, but still rode—determined to look after him and make sure he wasn’t pushed too hard. Secretariat still gave his all, even when he shouldn’t have had to. That was the only day my mother said my father cried.
Dad was generous to a fault, always giving of his time as well as helping those in need. He would always remember those in the backstretch and never refused an autograph and always stopped to relive memories with fans, never losing patience no matter how many times he’d been asked.
My father lived his life with integrity, having been one of three Jockeys of whom refused to take part in fixing a race. This integrity is something of which I am most proud of.
He was modest and humble, often forgetting just how famous and accomplished he was. This past week has shown us just how amazing and unforgettable our father truly was.
I think I can speak for everyone when I say thank you for the memories, and from my sisters and I, as well as our families - thank you for everything you have done for and given to us. We love you dad.
With all he had accomplished in his career, I asked him what he wanted to be most remembered for, his answer was simple: “I know I’ll be remembered as Secretariat’s jockey, which isn’t too bad—but I’d like to be remembered most as a great horseman.”
Dad, you will be remembered as that—and so, so much more.
~ Lynn Turcotte-Smith, August 27, 2025
St. Michel Catholic Church, Drummond