The Tangled Tale of Ron Turcotte’s 1973 Travers
The 2025 Travers Stakes is history and Sovereignty once again has lived up to his name as his empire grows. But whatever implications the result may have on this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic and Eclipse Awards, we will discuss after next week’s big races. For many we will remember it more for coming the day after the racing world lost Ron Turcotte at the age of 84. So this week we will focus on the eventful story behind his victory in the 1973 Travers. And if you want to know who Secretariat’s jockey was beyond his racing years, I highly recommend reading “Ron Turcotte: A Great Man,” told beautifully by one of his closest friends. ~ Steve Haskin
The Tangled Tale of Ron Turcotte’s 1973 Travers
By Steve Haskin
The last flickering flame that was Team Secretariat has been extinguished. Of course the memories of Secretariat, owner Penny Chenery, trainer Lucien Laurin, groom Eddie Sweat, and exercise riders Charlie Davis and Jim Gaffney will live on. But it was his regular jockey Ron Turcotte, who had been confined to a wheelchair since a spill in 1978, who provided the final voice to generations old and new, relaying stories and memories of an almost mythical steed, the likes of which will never be seen again.
As Ishmael said at the end of Moby Dick, “And I only am escaped alone to tell thee.” And that Turcotte did for 47 years, often having to struggle physically to make appearances for signings, festivals, and speaking engagements.
Was it merely coincidence that Turcotte died the day before the 52nd anniversary, almost to the day, of his only Travers victory; a mount he obtained at the last minute and only because Secretariat had to withdraw due to illness?
So overlooked has that Travers become over the years, due to the absence of Secretariat, that the name of Annihilate ‘Em, who scored by far the biggest victory of his career, became no more than a footnote when the long history of the “Midsummer Derby” is told. And that was even with it being Turcotte’s only victory in the historic race and drew a record crowd of 32,023, many of them having made reservations prior to Secretariat’s defection. That attendance topped the former record of 30,119 who came out to see Secretariat in the Whitney two weeks earlier, so Annihilate ‘Em, a horse who broke his maiden at River Downs, was bred by his trainer, and whose little-known sire Hempen also sired Quarter-Horses, outdrew Secretariat at Saratoga. (But he may have had a little help from the Meadow Stable champ, as you will see below).
Before we get to the events that led to Turcotte getting the mount, let’s take a closer look at this forgotten horse and all the connections he has to Secretariat in addition to providing his jockey with the only Travers victory of his career.
Annihilate ‘Em actually was a pretty talented colt, winning stakes at Keeneland, River Downs, and two at Liberty Bell (now Parx Racing), and was coming off a second-place finish, beaten a neck by Our Native, in the Monmouth Invitational at odds of 14-1.
As for the connections to Secretariat, he was born 12 days after Big Red in 1970 and died a month and a half after him in 1989, both at the age of 19. His Travers time of 2:01 3/5 was the third-fastest ever run. Six years later, the track record of 2:01 was shattered by General Assembly, a son of Secretariat.
When Ron Turcotte was named on Annihilate ‘Em for the Travers, he replaced the colt’s regular rider Jimmy Nichols, who had ridden him in his last six races, winning the Minuteman and Sentinel Stakes at Liberty Bell and was second in the Monmouth Invitational and Patriot Stakes. Nichols never got the mount back and eventually became an exercise rider and sales advisor to owner/trainer Louis Roussel and found Roussel a yearling in 1986 that he loved and convinced him to buy. He became the regular exercise rider for the colt, a son of Secretariat named Risen Star, who won the Preakness and Belmont. In the latter, he ran the mile and a half in 2:26 2/5, the fastest time since Big Red’s legendary victory in the Test of the Champion. So even though Nichols lost the Travers mount to Secretariat’s jockey, he was instrumental in winning two classics with Secretariat’s son.
We all know Charlie Davis as Secretariat’s exercise rider, who always accompanied Big Red to the track on the pony. Annihilate ‘Em was always accompanied by his faithful pony, also named Charlie, who you will read more about later on and who played a major role Annihilate ‘Em running in the Travers.
Annihilate ‘Em’s trainer Doug Davis Jr., who as mentioned earlier, bred the colt and co-bred his dam, admitted he had been avoiding Secretariat all year. “I believe in hitting them where they ain’t,” he said. “I felt it was better for my colt not to be around when the big horse is in town.”
After deciding to run in the Travers following his colt’s big effort in the Monmouth Invitational stepping way up in class, Davis loaded Annihilate ‘Em on a trailer and headed for Saratoga, accompanied as always by his buddy Charlie.
In the meantime, the New York Racing Association after learning that Secretariat was progressing nicely after his illness, contacted Lucien Laurin and asked him if Ron Turcotte could parade Big Red and gallop him between the fourth and fifth races on Travers day, as many of the fans had made their plans well in advance just to see the great Secretariat in the flesh, a good number of them for the first time.
Laurin said he would consider it, but wouldn’t give the OK until Turcotte took Secretariat out for an easy gallop once around and let him know if he thought he was up to it.
When Turcotte got Secretariat to the track he was thrilled to see that he was showing good energy and there was a bit of a spring to his step. He felt at that point the horse was well on the road to recovery.
Secretariat, with Charlie Davis aboard, gallops between races for the huge Travers day crowd.
Turcotte recalled, “I knew I would be riding that day and Charlie Davis had already told me he would love to parade Secretariat in front of the fans wearing the Meadow Stable colors, so I suggested to Lucien to let Charlie take him out instead. Lucien agreed and that is what they did.”
So Secretariat made his scheduled appearance and galloped down the stretch to the cheers of the crowd, grateful to see their hero back on the track.
As for Turcotte, when he began lining up his mounts for the big day he wound up with more than he bargained for. Coming off the track one morning after working a horse for Greentree Stables, his agent informed him that Doug Davis, for whom he had ridden in Canada back in the ‘60s, was looking for him. When Turcotte met up with him, Davis asked him if Secretariat was definitely out of the Travers. After being told he was, Davis wanted to know if Turcotte would do him a favor and work a horse for him.
Turcotte agreed and was told the horse was Annihilate ‘Em, who was coming off that big effort at Monmouth Park. After working him and telling Davis he was impressed with the colt’s speed and how well he moved, Ron was asked if he would ride him in the Travers. Turcotte happily took the mount and just like that he had his replacement for Secretariat.
But then Davis ran into a very unusual problem. As remembered first-hand by Dogwood Stable founder Cot Campbell, who knew Davis well, the stable pony Charlie, who went everywhere with Annihilate ‘Em and ponied him to the track each morning, would do so without a bridle.
“I was flabbergasted,” Campbell recalled in his Bloodhorse.com blog. “Charlie was equipped with not one bit of leather from his shoulders forward and depended entirely on his own incredible savvy and an occasional bit of knee or heel pressure (or mental telepathy!) from the rider. The Saratoga outriders and stewards were aghast when Doug came on the track the first morning. Astride the seemingly nonchalant and bridleless Charlie, the old Kentucky boy was taking Annihilate ‘Em out for a gallop several days before the Travers. An outrider came loping up to this strange little group and said, ‘You’ll have to get that pony off this racetrack. He hasn’t got a bridle on!'”
Davis told him Charlie didn’t like anything around his head and assured him he would be fine. But when the outrider told him Charlie was a safety hazard and ordered Davis to get him off the track immediately and borrow another lead pony, Davis shot back, “Well, this lead pony has forgot more about racetrack procedure than all the damned outriders and stewards in New York State will ever know. If this pony goes, I go, and so does this horse that came here to run in the Travers.”
Just as he was about to load up the trailer and leave he was informed by one of the stewards that they had decided to make an exception this one time, and Charlie (without a bridle) could escort Annihilate ‘Em on the racetrack and to the post for the Travers.
In the Travers field were Secretariat’s old foes Stop the Music, who was awarded the 1972 Champagne Stakes when Big Red was disqualified, and Twice A Prince, who had the dubious honor of finishing second in Secretariat’s historic Belmont victory. Our Native, who had finished third in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, would have been the favorite coming off his Monmouth Invitational score, but was withdrawn, as he was in the process of being syndicated. Stop the Music was made the 2-1 favorite, with Annihilate ‘Em second choice at 5-2.
Turcotte gave Annihilate ‘Em a flawless ride, putting him on the rail right from the start and maintaining a narrow lead through fractions of :23 2/5, :47 1/5, and 1:11 1/5. Turning for home, Annihilate ‘Em still hung on to a narrow lead over Stop the Music and Aljamin, who was coming off a third in the Monmouth Invitational.
Down the stretch, Stop the Music kept coming at him, but under Turcotte’s aggressive riding, waving the crop at him right-handed the entire stretch run, Annihilate ‘Em dug in gamely to win by 1 ¼ lengths.
The 1973 Travers turned out to be an exciting race in fast time, with Ron Turcotte winning the race for the first and only time in his career, but it was and always has been remembered for who wasn’t in the race.
Several media reports had the final time wrong, in fact not even close to 2:01 3/5, and one article, not interested in providing factual information, said that Annihilate ‘Em “held off several challenges to win by a few lengths.” Wikipedia simplified the race even further saying Secretariat missed the Travers “due to poor health.” One story said that Annihilate ‘Em had won the Rosemont Stakes at Liberty Bell when the colt finished third, and the race was at Delaware Park!
The front page of the New York Times sports section had a small story on the Travers at the bottom of the page right next to a story about Rik Massengale leading a golf tournament by two strokes. The lead story was the New York Giants playing the Jets in a pre-season game that afternoon in New Haven, Connecticut.
In 1978, I attended the races at Royal Ascot, and the Coventry Stakes, one of the top races for 2-year-olds, was won by a colt named Lake City, who was a son of Annihilate ‘Em. As soon as the race was over, the British reporters swooped down on me en masse wanting to know who Annihilate ‘Em was. I told them he won the Travers Stakes in 1973 when Secretariat had to withdraw due to illness. The next morning I was reading the London Times and their report on the race said the winner was a son of the American stallion Annihilate ‘Em, who upset Secretariat in the Travers Stakes. Well, at least in England the colt got some recognition, as false as it was.
What went unnoticed following the Travers was that, for whatever reason, Doug Davis ran Annihilate ‘Em right back one week later in of all races the Boardwalk Handicap on the grass at Monmouth Park, where he was beaten a neck after blowing a two-length lead at the eighth pole under new rider Miguel Rivera.
Having won the Travers, Annihilate ‘Em received an invitation to the inaugural Marlboro Cup. Shockingly, Turcotte chose to ride a now fully recovered Secretariat (that was a joke), and the mount went to Angel Cordero. In another bit of a head scratcher, Davis worked the colt a half-mile in a blistering :45 4/5 two days before the race.
In the Marlboro Cup, Annihilate ‘Em pressed the early pace, running his half in the exact same time he had worked two days earlier and almost two full seconds faster than he had run in the Travers. That pace helped set up Secretariat’s world-record time of 1:45 2/5 for the 1 1/8-mile distance. Annihilate ‘Em faded to finish fifth and never ran again, compiling an excellent record of 18 starts, 11 wins, four seconds, and two thirds. He was retired to High Hope Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, where he stood the remainder of his life. His biggest money winner was Destroy Em, who earned $262,470, winning the Ak-Sar-Ben Speed Handicap at age 7.
As many great races as Ron Turcotte won in his career, a good deal of them multiple times, it is ironic how his only Travers victory came about and the series of events that led to this unlikely partnership.
I think back to that day in 1978 at Royal Ascot, explaining to the British press who Annihilate ‘Em was and how Ron Turcotte came to ride him. And then one month later, almost to the day, Turcotte’s career ended when he was involved in that terrible spill aboard the filly Flag of Leyte Gulf at Belmont that paralyzed him from the waist down, confining him to a wheelchair until his death last Friday. A personal bit of irony is that my father participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf in World War II, making it even more difficult hearing that name.
Racing fans will remember the 2025 Travers Stakes for the spectacular victory of Sovereignty and earlier the gutsy win by Thorpedo Anna. I know I certainly will. But I also will remember the shadow cast the day before when we not only lost a great jockey and a very special person, but the final living link to a horse that still sends shivers down the spine and evokes tears. All the parts are now gone, but the “tremendous machine” lives on.
Photos courtesy of New York Racing Association, Bob Coglianese
Racing historian, author, and award-winning retired journalist for the Daily Racing Form and The Blood-Horse, Steve Haskin was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame’s Media Roll of Honor in 2016. Known for his racing knowledge and insightful prose, he has been an exclusive contributor to Secretariat.com since 2020.
With Del Mar giving Paco Lopez a three-day suspension for what was a borderline infraction in the Green Flash (and no danger to horses or riders), it will be interesting to see how Saratoga handles Kendrick Carmouche.
Not that we expect consistency from stewards at one racetrack, let alone stewards at different tracks.
KC got 5 days
David, it’s a pity we can’t switch stewards around the world. The French, Hong Kong, and Japanese stewards are merciless on infractions, merciless.
Davids, both Minnie Hauk and Lake Victoria are expected to race next year. YAY!
That is good news, Lynda. Minnie Hauk just keeps on winning; I hope that holds next year.
Yes Lynda, Twirl as well most probably. Coolmore usually race their fillies over 3 years but the colts they ‘want’ as sires seldom race past three. Not surprisingly the European fillies/mares are dearer to the heart.
Has everyone seen the photo in The Blood-Horse website of Irad Ortiz Jr being unseated in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. There certainly was an angel watching over Irad…
Davids, that photo on BH is of him after he tried to get back on Mindframe.
He kept hold of Mindframe’s reins in another photo when jumped onto White Abarrio’s back and pulled his jockey back up.
Now that is balance, holding Mindframe’s reins in one hand, having hold of Zayas’ shirt with the other and sitting sideways on White Abarrio’s back!
Lynda, it frightened the life out me. I’ve fallen from a horse just cantering without any obstacles close by and that was scary enough how Irad Ortiz Jr managed to do all that and survive was more a miracle than amazing.
Balance, strength and athleticism.
Guessing one of these photos will win an award at year end.
I have taken some tumbles myself over the years, most every rider has. Just been lucky, worst was a concussion when I was a little girl. Was galloping my pony on the elementary school yard. Did not realize the broad jump sawdust pit was wet underneath. Champ’s feet slipped out from under him. I was knocked out for 10 minutes.
Scared my Dad nearly to death. My pony was so good. He got up slowly when my Dad asked him to. Rode him home, I insisted or so my Dad told me. Still have a scar on the inside of my leg above my knee where the saddle scraped me.
I saw the Blood Horse photograph that Davids mentioned but not the second one that you referred to. I don’t do Facebook or X so if it was there, I wouldn’t have seen it. I agree that anyone who got those shots would deserve an award.
I think it was both amazing and a miracle. What Irad did was mind-boggling, but I think there was some divine help in there, too. I suspect Irad would agree with you.
Sure Davids. How many instances has Irad nearly caused disaster more than once while racing?
David, no one was beating the winner, but Romeo was a Shakespearean tragedy – just awful. I was concerned that he’d been so bad in the Tremont, and he ran back to that.
I don’t see any point to them sending him to Dubai at this point. I don’t even know what Steve will do with him
Don’t worry too much about the Hopeful Stakes the winner inevitably turns out to be a an early developing sprinter anyway. This year Saratoga has been so speed bias that the races have been overly impacted with jockeys doing everything to get to the lead – worst example = Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Honor A. P. Is doing ok in no. 9 on the 2nd crop sires with less than half the named foals as most of the others. As much as I like the history of Saratoga and everything surrounding it Belmont Park is my favorite track for horses to run on in the US.
Champagne Stakes anyone? Ha ha
David, it’s just that Romeo was bad….and he looked like he was climbing. No way you can run him in the Champagne off of this
HAP has done fine this year – but he needs to do better if he’s going to stay in KY – another season of 19 mares won’t cut it.
I’m going to focus on the ever reliable Margie
I used to live not far from Belmont Park – I adore it; it’s by FAR my favorite track
Steve Asmussen doesn’t rush young horses too much so Romeo probably went from a stable that the best horse they ever had etc to a slow burn stable. I suspected Romeo might go backwards before going forward again. Fingers crossed.
David, the owner spent almost 2 million dollars to get this horse ready for a ME winter campaign ….which to me should now be completely up in the air. The point is that they aren’t going to take their time with him…he’ll get at least one more shot.
Maybe Romeo hates Saratoga – he was terrible in the Tremont, now the Hopeful
Betsy, Romeo lost the race when he missed the break. His rider probably didn’t push him. He’s a much better horse than he showed yesterday and he”ll likely prove it in his next few starts. And Ted Noffey is a freak — looks like a really good one for this year and perhaps next year’s classics.
Ms. B, I must disagree with you …I just watched the break gain, and he broke fine…he just dropped back so quickly that it looks like he broke slowly
He looked like he did in the Tremont…I knew ha had nothing as soon as I saw that he dropped back, didn’t show any speed at all; he honestly just couldn’t keep up
The only hope I have is that he just hates Saratoga…he was awful in the Tremont, and he clearly was climbing up the backstretch; I don’t think he was ever comfortable.
No one was beating the winner, but I just expected much better
Well they aren’t going to give up on Romeo after one race, mostly because the owner has invested $1.7 million in him…. but my expectations have been lowered greatly. However, I will continue to hope
FWIW, KC is riding for Todd in the 2nd at Saratoga
And for Todd/Repole on opening day at Belmont/Aqueduct
After watching the Jockey Club Gold Cup videos from different angles and looking at multiple still shot photos these are my conclusions:
1. Phileas Fogg ridden by Carmouche made a sharp turn out of gate into the lane of Contrary Thinking ridden by Davis.
2. Contrary Thinking bumped into White Abarrio almost unseating Zayas. Irad got hold of Zayas’ shirt and pulled him back into the saddle.
3. White Abarrio bumped into Mindframe unseating Irad.
4. White Abarrio and Mindframe were so close that Irad for a couple of strides hopped onto the back of White Abarrio to avoid falling on the ground and being trampled.
5. Irad attempted to get back on Mindframe but literally slid down between them holding onto each horse before hitting the ground. He rolled into a fetal position on his stomach with his arms over his head to protect it.
6. Sierra Leone ridden by Flavien literally jumped over Irad. It looks like a hind hoof might have grazed Irad as SL jumped over him.
7. The outriders took off after Mindframe and collared him.
8. Irad attempted to stand but could not.
8. The ambulance pulled up along side Irad on the ground, scooped him up and loaded him into the ambulance before the horses came around the turn headed towards the finish line.
Excellent summary,. Lynda. Fascinating that other jocks were trying to keep fellow competitors on their mounts. Makes sense, considering they’re barely aboard on a tiny piece of saddle as it is.
Tks Ms B
So many accusations and so much fingerprinting that I wanted to see for myself what happened.
Looked at every photo and still shot I could find, every video (Front, behind, overhead) and read comments from people who watched it unfold right in front of them.
All the horses, jockeys are very lucky.
Just split seconds from disaster.
These jockeys are athletes and have tremendous agility, strength and reaction times and yes, care for each other.
One more thing. Sierra Leone receives a lot of criticism sometime. For being involved, having to jump over Irad then get his stride back to come in 2nd was pretty amazing. Flavien did a great job.
And for White Abarrio to stay cool when Irad jumped on for a few seconds was amazing too.
Thank you for posting this, Lynda. There are some things there that I had missed.
You are welcome Jiffy.
Thanks Lynda, I just don’t want to watch the race.
Just popped up on X.
Irad cleared to ride, but will see how he feels in the morning.
So thankful he is OK and so is Mindframe.
I.m so glad to hear that. It was a very scary incident. If he doesn’t feel like riding, I hope he comes to the track to get his award as leading rider. I suspect he would get a lot of cheers just for being there.
Yes, thanks Lynda. Agree, Jiffy. I may be wrong but from what I’ve seen over the past year Irad Ortiz Jr has really matured as a jockey and given up previous bad behaviour. A season in Europe would really benefit him.
You’re not wrong. I too believe Irad has matured a great deal as a rider. He has always had incredible ability but now he’s found more appropriate ways to get the same results. He also is a very original thinker. His effort to avoid falling by riding two horses at the same time was a new one, but he almost pulled it off. And he appeared to be aiming to get back on Mindframe so he could finish the race. Amazing! I wouldn’t want to send him to Europe–I like watching him here.
I don’t think his actions were at all premeditated….simply a reaction…he didnt care about finishing the race ..he cared about survival and nothing more…
Dominic, my thoughts as well.
And jeers.
THE Old Friend…Silver Charm left us, age 31….
That was Little Silver Charm,the pony mascot.
OH! I saw the picture, KNEW that was not a puck of Silver Charm, well GOOD!
That’s OK, when I first read the headline I thought for a second I thought it was Silver Charm.
Little Silver Charm lived a long life, he was estimated to be close to 40 years old.
Thanks for info Lynda. Sorry to hear.
So sorry to hear this — and so amazed that the Big Bad Original Silver Charm is still with us. I love that horse.
It will be interesting to see what kind of suspension Kendrick Carmouche gets for what looked like outrageous race riding. Irad could have been seriously injured or killed.
Yesterday, FanDuel had excellent coverage of the disqualification in the Green Flash over a much less serious incident. Soon after the start, Reef Runner bore in on Queen Maxima, who then shut off Motorious’ access to a possible running lane. When long shot Reef Runner finished first by a nose over the late-charging Motorious, the inquiry sign went up. Both Joe Talamo and Christina Blacker said they personally would not take the winner down, but believed the judges would. When Todd S. asked his colleagues if the fact that Paco Lopez was the rider in question would factor into the decision, they said they believed it would. The winner was disqualified as predicted.
This mattered more than usual because the Green Flash was a “Win and You’re In” race.
Such a talented colony of riders…you get spoiled, by the clean run racing—then this happens…messing up the entire race—but it might have been far worse, and on national TV..
Matthew, it was simply disgraceful.
What a disaster the JCGC was – I can’t ever watch the replay seeing Irad like that – he could have been killed.
I have no idea what Kendrick was thinking ..thank god it looks like all jocks and horses are ok. At one point, White Arborio had two jockeys…
Yes, it was extremely disturbing–a race I had been looking forward to because of the depth, the quality, and the competitiveness of the field. I was cheering for Mindframe and I believe he would have won. But I did watch the replays and I appreciated the fact that they were presented. I could see that Irad changed his position on the track, which told me that he was conscious and able to move–at least to some extent. That was important and it offered some degree of reassurance. It was much better than having to worry through a dozen commercials without any knowledge at all of how bad it might have been. Of course, there’s a lot we still don’t know, but I pray that Irad’s injuries are not serious and that he will recover completely and as quickly as possible. I’ll miss him while he’s out.
It’s a move that’s seldom done, Mike Smith on Game on Dude did it, in The Big Cap—but he was clear—it still spooked the field! Kendrick failed to clear—he NEEDS 30 days!..
The overhead drone view and the still photo shocking.
Irad jumped on White Abarrio for a split second so he would not fall to the ground and get trampled.
He tried to get back on Mindframe.
What good horse White Abarrio is, he could have totally freaked with Irad on his back and what good horse Mindframe was too.
Sierra Leone had to jump over Irad.
Flavien said he almost stopped Sierra Leone to go back to Irad on the ground.
High 5 to the EMTs on how quickly they got Irad off the track and the outsiders caught Mindframe.
The jockeys are amazing, strong athletes!
Excellent observations. A lot of credit goes to a lot of people and horses who kept the incident from being a lot worse than it was. If I might make a light comment about a serious situation, White Abarrio is accustomed to having Irad on his back, although in a somewhat different way. Maybe he was glad to reconnect with a friend in need.
It is only by the grace of God that Irad was not trampled to death or that one of the horses did not go down.
Betsy, I agree entirely with what Mike Repole had to say. I hope they give the jockey on the rabbit 6 months. If a horse can’t beat other horses by itself then it’s not that good. Period.
Mainframe will probably miss the Breeders’ Cup Classic now and, thank god, Irad Ortiz Jr is still with us.
Looking forward to the Hopeful.
David, I haven’t idea if he’s right about Davis…I have seen others on another board I go to mention that Davis was an issue, but I’d have to watch the replay again – which I don’t want to. I know Irad is ok, but he could have bern killed. – it scares me to watch it
Repole is nuts for thinking SL should be DQ’d
Todd said Mindframe is ok – unless he’s mentally not there, why would he miss the Classic?
Should be a fun race! I think Romeo will be an overlay – regardless, he’s got a good chance. I’d kill for HAP to have a G1 winner, but hopefully he’ll run big, period
Betsy, I stopped watching the race after the fall. I’m not sure exactly which jockey caused it all but I hate rabbits in races. I hope someone is forced to pay the price, is winning a race that important that someone gets killed?
Good luck in the Hopeful with Romeo but there is about five I’d be happy with. Ha ha
David, I honestly hate rabbits, too ….have for a long time. It’s cruel, IMO, to use racehorses as fodder for other horses…
💯💯💯
😂😂
Thanks!
HAP getting at least a G1 placing off of Margie’s 3rd in the Alabama would be a needed boost for him
So far Romeo is his only 2 year old winner, which is NOT good, but he’s had a few promising babies recently – two on grass, 1 on dirt.
Keep an eye on Honor the Numbers – she should have won her debut
Why would mindframe skip the classic? I can’t think of a reason?
Dominic, sometimes horses involved with these type of skirmishes take time to ‘mentally’ to get over these events. Physically the horse may be fine but psychologically maybe not so easy to tell.
Mindframe is an extremely imposing type of colt that might just shrug it off, let’s hope so.
Just wish Chad Brown had not entered a hopeless runner to benefit his other runner Sierra Leone as a means of trying to beat Mindframe for the first time.
Davids, you’ve never commented for whatever reasons the various times BB did the same as Brown. Shocker!
Man, if you think I’m a Bob Baffert ‘fanboy’ you haven’t been around much. I’ve been writing on “The Blood-Horse” et al websites since the late 1990s.
I’ve always followed Steve Haskin’s advice unless you know for sure don’t comment.
Everyone and his dog knew why Chad Brown entered a rabbit in the Jockey Club Gold Cup…
Well aware of Brown’s agenda in the race,however when Baffert deploys same tactic you never comment. And………in few months from now hearing the familiar battle cry from some- ‘he’s loaded’ not going to matter. His Derby glory is over.
Steve and all, this past week I watched an interview on CBS with Ron. It was filmed some months after he was paralyzed.
He was interviewed in a shed row at one of the racetracks.
Ron said that his goal was to train racehorses one day but that it was dependent on getting control of his pain after his accident.
Additionally he said that just like a horse cannot give 100% in a race because of pain, a trainer cannt give 100% to training thd horse of he himself is in pain.
Ron was in pain most of the rest of his life but endured that pain to support the disabled jockey charities and be available to Secretariat’s fan and to his fans.
WOW Fierceness!!!
Yes! Congratulations to him and his people. I love that horse. When you get the good Fierceness, there’s no one like him.
To win like he did after that awkward start was really something to behold. Awesome!
Fierceness took advantage of the misfortune of the other horses…SL would have run him down if he hadn’t taken the time to avoid killing Irad…nibody was more impeded than SL
Sierra Leone would have needed to run 3000 miles to beat Fierceness this weekend. He also would have needed a time machine.
Fierceness is on/off.
But the point I was making was that Fierceness and Sierra Leone were in two different races in two different states on two different days. Nothing that happened in the Jockey Club Gold Cup in any way affected Fierceness’ win in the Pacific Classic.
No doubt!
Kudos to Johnny V. for keeping his cool and going with the flow, moving to Plan B without a hitch. He’s really good at that, and it’s inspiring to watch. Next time my day doesn’t start off the way I planned, I’ll try to remember his example!
Steve did you know Bill Christine? He was big on Horse Racing AND Baseball, he passed away on M9nday, age 87….je was a stickler, for the Baseball Hall of Fame being for the greats, ONLY—and was hurt, in his later years when they took away his HOF vote….he said he was more “aware” of the game in retirement, than when he reported, seeing the game on TV….but Bill was longtime reporter, on Jorse Racing….very knowledgeable….
Journalism takes it later today.
Great card today at Kentucky Downs. There’s five million dollar plus stakes headlined by the $3,500,000 Nashville Derby. With full fields, there’s beaucoups money to be made here.
I’m gonna take a flyer on HILL ROAD in the Nashville. He returns to the turf and can run all day. Good luck y’all!
Big races left and right all over the country, Dewey! I had never heard of the Nashville Derby, but it’s chock full of good horses, many from this year’s Triple Crown trail. I would love to see Burnham Square do well in this big turf race.
Best of luck to you!
Yes, Ms. B., the Nashville Derby is fairly new. I believe it was initiated a year or two ago. It is an intriguing race this year with a European as the ML favorite, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see one of the Triple Crown horses end up as the choice.
The card got off to a big bang with the 2nd race being won by a 100-1 shot. Ground Support, a 1st time maiden, paying a handsome $203.20. Wouldn’t you know I had the horse that finished 2nd, Secretly Delighted. I played her to win only. When will I ever learn, especially with these full fields? lol
Looking forward to seeing Fierceness, Nysos and Journalism in the Pacific Classic this afternoon. Should be a dandy. Enjoy!
Dewey, it was disappointing that Nysos was scratching but I wasn’t surprised Fierceness won easily. I felt Nysos and Fierceness would distance themselves from Journalism.
Good 4 year olds inevitably beat good 3 year olds unless the 3 year old is exceptional. Not surprised by the Pacific Classic result, one can only imagine how far Fierceness would have won by with a decent start.
I agree Davids. Nysos would have been a factor in the P. Classic but any issue with the hoof cannot be taken lightly.
The win by Fierceness was jaw dropping considering the trouble he had at the start. Whew!
The Jockey Club Gold Cup today will be the last major prep for the big players. I’m going with Sierra Leone as he seems to be better than he ever was.
Reste au chaud, mon ami.
Reste, calme, mon ami. Demain sera un jour meilleur, espérons-le. Dons l’Espoir.
C’est demain qui me fait avancer, ha,ha.. Bonne sante, Davids.
His “trouble at the start” was self inflicted if anything….not sure what trouble you’re talking about but F had it easy…he benefited from the collision…but he ran well…
Agreed Dominic.
Davids and Dewey, the BCC will be highly anticipated this year IMHO.
All this talent both 3 year olds and the older horses.
I thought Fiereceness and Johhny V were spectacular.
I will not criticize Journalism and Rispoli. He laid his heart down on that track, all we can ask of him.
Ryan Moore out for 2 to 3 months with what sounds like a hairline fracture in leg.
Got to be be a blow for Coolmore. He will miss some big races. Wishing him a speedy recovery.
Think Sierra Leone will won today. Hogh hopes though for Mindframe and one of my heart horses, White Abarrio
.
Lynda, it will be interesting to see what Coolmore does with Ryan Moore out for so long. Hopefully, they give some younger riders a chance to shine.
Still shocked by the Jockey Club Gold Cup on how a jockey can be so careless and with such lack of concern for other riders just to try and set up a race for another horse.
I second that emotion, Lynda. Here’s hoping that everyone stays healthy so as to provide us with a memorable Breeders’ Cup.
61 days and counting……
Nysos never won at 10f. No way to determine unless he ran yesterday….he didn’t.
Agree….not sure why he was so hyped…never ran beyond 1 n a 16th and never beat anynody of note…remember, if bb enters a horse with only 3 legs he WILL be the favorite for sure…
Dominic, you’re absolutely correct. Always enjoy your comments.
Burnham Square almost pulled it off Ms. B. He gave the winner all he could handle. I’m sure Ian Wilkes is very proud of the effort that Burnham Square gave today. Great race.
I was so pleased he was there at the finish!
$11.7 MILLION today! 7 of the top ten NY jockeys are at The Downs …Prat went west for Nysos—scratched! The crazy purses at Kentucky Downs…generated by the historic Racing slots….$200k allowance races….
Matthew, do you know anymore about the Nysos scratch? Baffert said it was a minor injury but that could mean anything. Thanks, if you know anything.
Really interesting piece of history. Would love to see a photo of Charlie ponying Annihilate ‘Em without the bridle!
Another great column, Steve. Thanks for all that interesting detailed history. And the tribute to Ron Turcotte, the last living link to the big red horse.
An excellent story as always Steve and what a nice sentiment honoring Mr. Turcotte and a life well lived. Read this somewhere that as long as you are remembered you are never really gone. I think Secretariat and all his connections will be remembered and spoken of for a very long time to come.
Ornellaia runs on The Spinaway on Saturday….9/2…..Im gonna see if I can get me some—this is a seriously good filly!..
That is quite a story. I enjoyed that.
I prefer the name “Liberty Bell” to “Parx”.
I had never heard of Annihilate ‘Em before reading this story. I started following horseracing in 1973 because of Secretariat. But living in California, we didn’t hear much about Eastern races other than the Triple Crown with few exceptions.
This Saturday’s TV coverage of Saratoga is the strangest yet IMO.
12noon-3pm on YouTube
3pm-6pm on Fox Business Channel
6pm-7pm back to YouTube
Fox Business Channel??????? Hopefully, that show will be hosted by Stuart Varney and Charles Payne.
Why can’t we have a place of our own?
Saturday at Saratoga will be a little strange with all the top jockeys riding elsewhere. Flavien Prat & Johnny V at Del Mar to ride Nysos & Fierceness in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar. The Ortiz brothers, Luis Saez, Manny Franco, and Joel Rosario at Franklin, Kentucky to ride all those crazy-money purses at Kentucky Downs.
Dylan Davis is named to ride horses in all 13 races at Saratoga on Saturday. With an over/under set at 3, I would take the over on his winners that day.
Wonder if any colts will be named Uncle Herchel this year?
I remember Annihilate ‘Em (who could forget that name!?) but not that he won the Secretariat-less Travers. Spot on timing with this piece, Steve. I too loved the anecdote about Charlie who lead-ponied without a stitch of hardware or leather near his face. Horses are nothing if not horsey.
I never knew much about Ron Turcotte beyond his history as the rider of Secretariat, but he must have been an exceptional person. May he rest in peace — and see that magnificent, untouchable red horse again!
We will be known forever by the tracks we leave. – Dakota Proverb
Thank you Steve.
Lovely comment, Lynda.
Ms B, thank you.
What a wonderful story, and, as always, beautifully told. I was just getting into the sport, but saw Ron and Secretariat multiple times at the Big A and Belmont. But I love the backstory of the ‘73 Travers and how you weave the past and present so seamlessly.
Thank you very much Jay.
Thanks very much, Steve, for adding to my racing knowledge. A most interesting story. We’ve lost two giants of the sport this summer. I’d like to send, along with many others, my condolences to the Turcotte family. I like to think that now Ron and Secretariat are finally flying free, together again.
Thank you Steve for a wonderful piece! I grew up in Manchester, CT (15 minutes east of Hartford) and our family went to Saratoga every August for our summer vacation. I was nine years old in the summer of 1973 and was incredibly excited to see Secretariat in the Travers. I was there that Travers Day and will never forget seeing him paraded in front of the grandstand. Our family was a horse racing family, as my father was from Dublin and his father had been a trainer. I still have the program from the 1973 Travers. It’s very sad about Ron Turcotte and I’m so glad you wrote this beautiful tribute to him, Annihilate ‘Em, and Secretariat. Thank you again Steve.
Thank you Jim. Its amazing how thrilled people were to see him in the flesh even though he couldn’t run. It was enough just to see him gallop.. many seeing him for the first time. Included in the crowd that day was my wife and she remembers it well.
Steve,
Thanks for this piece and giving us another tale about a jockey who rode some of the greats this sport has ever known. I think Ron will always be remembered for his rides on Secretariat in the Triple Crown as he well should be.
Your the best !!! Have a great week.
Thanks for your account of the 1973 Travers with Ron Turcotte riding Annihilate ‘Em. I never heard of the horse or his trainer; what a great story.
Changing the subject, I thought it was great this year that two legendary outsiders were appointed to the Hall of Fame: Arthur B. Hancock III and Smarty Jones. It was awesome that the head official for racing in Japan came to Saratoga to honor Hancock with a bronze relief of Sunday Silence. And it’s great that a large mural of Sunday Silence is being done near Secretariat’s Park in Paris, KY.
Thank you again for a wonderful racing memory.
I was one of those who didn’t remember who won the 1973 Travers. Thank you, Steve, for your beautifully written account of that race. Annihilate ‘Em certainly responded to Ron Turcotte’s handling on that day and is in the history books for his winning performance in the MidSummer Derby.
I especially enjoyed reading about Charlie, the pony that accompanied Annihilate ‘Em to the post. The trainer’s comment about Charlie knowing and forgetting more than the outriders and stewards at NYRA would ever know made me laugh.
I had the pleasure of meeting Ron Turcotte on two occasions. First was at Saratoga when he signed my copy of his book, ‘The Will to Win’. He misspelled my name and offered to correct it, but, I told him not to because it made it that much more special to me. The second occasion was at Churchill where he appeared just before the release of the movie, ‘Secretariat’. I forged over $50 for his bobblehead and he autographed it (in gold ink, no less). I asked him who played him in the movie? He responded and I was surprised that it wasn’t an actor but a journeyman jockey who plied his trade on the midwest circuit. Does anyone remember who that was?
Ron Turcotte was a great jockey and an even better human being. RIP Monsieur Turcotte and make no mistake, your memory and legacy are intact. Thank you for your immense contributions to the sport of horseracing.
Dewey, I think the jockey you are thinking of was Otto Thorwarth.
Yes, Davids, it was Otto Thorwarth. He hung up his tack immediately after getting the part. They must have given him a sizeable amount to allow him to retire, ha! I never read anywhere how or why he was chosen for the part, but I must say he did a credible job.
I did not care for the casting of John Malkovich in the role of Lucien Laurin. He didn’t seem to be a good fit and botched Lucien’s French-Canadian accent throughout the film.
Secretariat was a fairly good movie overall if not memorable. However, I do remember singing ‘Oh Happy Day’ for days thereafter, ha, ha!
Looking forward to the enticing card at Kentucky Downs this Saturday. There are five million dollar plus races on the menu Saturday, including the $3,500,000 Nashville Derby which has a full field of 12 including 5 triple crown participants.
I’ve got to start handicapping as there should be some overlooked gems in these big fields. Yummy!
I found the movie to be schmalzy and full of errors. Not a single mention about Riva Ridge and waaaayyy too many liberties taken with history. In fact, I read somewhere the director wanted to make the Belmont a close finish for dramatic purposes but had to be advised that anyone who knew a thing about racing and even those who don’t knew that Secretariat crushed the Belmont field.
I’ve seen worse.
Yes Dewey, it’s a sad fact about film or even television that a ‘story/history’ is ruined or unwatchable due to an inaccurate script, bad casting et al. There have been so many times you’ve looked forward to a cinematic expose of a history fact only to be put before it even started production.
I used to work within the film industry, years ago now ha ha, subscribing to Films and Filming, Screen International, American Film, Variety et al going to all the premieres etc then all of sudden the quality part of the industry was discarded as film had to compete with video etc doubling down to the widest appeal. That is why you get films like “Secretariat” – in film these days formula works, history doesn’t. Lol.
I’m looking forward to Kentucky Downs as well, it gets better and better each year. The trees are starting to establish themselves and the course is really starting to take shape. I remember when it looked like a field in a farm with the grass cut shorter to resemble a racecourse.
As for the prize money, it’s very similar to what it is in Melbourne and Sydney every Saturday throughout the year bar winter. Apart from the prestigious races who have Saudi/Dubai prize money allotted to them.
Good handicapping, Dewey.
winter.
Steve, you are the finest turf writer I’ve ever read.
But you are a great writer, period.
That’s very kind of you, Marc. Thank you.
Bravo Mr. Haskin!! You are the best.
Steve, this is brilliant. I learned so much from this post. I don’t believe I ever knew most of this. I loved that Cot Campbell had a hand in this, and the story of Charlie the Bridleless Pony. Wild to think that there was something about Annihilate ‘Em that just seemed to trip the media, and no one could get anything about him correct. Glad you are here to set the record straight!
Ron Turcotte certainly danced every dance and had the hot hand in 1973, didn’t he? It is strange how it seems like Fate is a real and active force in some lives, and not in others. What a brave man: he took his own tragedy and glory, rolled them into one, and kept fighting behind the scenes for the sport he loved for his entire life. I cannot imagine the grit it took to rise above the loss, and keep remembering. I hope that we keep it going for all of Secretariat’s team.
Ride In Perpetuity, Ron. Thank you.
Wonderful tribute to Big Red’s pilot. Thank you
Steve, your tribute to Ron Turcotte took you back to when racing was headline news around the world. I was living in Europe in 1973 and reading about this ‘wonder’ horse in the racing rags was so intriguing. Secretariat looked totally different, unique, to most European, Australian racehorses.
Your eulogy to Ron Turcotte no doubt gave everyone a smile through the sadness. Nobody wants to be the ‘last one’ as indicated from your quote from “Moby Dick,” that is a true loneliness.
I can’t remember a sadder year in losing familiar faces that ‘made’ racing, around the world, each departure takes a part of your history with them. Stay well.
Lovely. Thank you Steve. Ron Turcotte will be remembered always. The team is back together. ♥️
Thanks Steve for the human element of the Tale of Big Red. I do believe the tale of Secretariat will last like the Epic of Gilgamesh. For me it’s not a shiver down the spine, it’s heat flowing up from my spine, hair standing up on the back of my neck then the welling of tears.
You topped me on that Derek. And when you throw in the Epic of Gilgamesh I won’t even attempt to match that.
When you witness the birth of a legend we’ll never know how far it will go!
Great story. That last line is wonderful and poignant.
This was so interesting! It’s amazing how you weave together current events, historical events and back stories no one knows, connecting all the random threads—terrific writing! I’m so pleased that Ron won the Travers (I did not know that), another feather in his incredibly feathered jockey’s cap. And suggesting the exercise rider gallop Secretariat at the Travers rather than him—pure humanity on display. Thank you, Steve.
Liberty Bell is NOT Parx. Parx was formerly Philadelphia Park which was formerly Keystone. Liberty Bell was a completely different track.
Keep going Keystone was Liberty Bell first.
Was referring to the evolution of racing in the Bensalem area. Started as Liberty Bell. Then they built a new track in 1974 and called it Keystone. I was referring to that evolution and not the actual structure.
Thanks very much Steve. Please let us know if you have other stories about Ron and the Secretariat family coming up. Your stories are always the best.
So hard to imagine the connections (physical) are gone; all we have now are the memories thank you Steve.
If you want great stories about Ron go to Leonard’s tribute on the website’s main page
That was great Steve, thank you for sharing history. It’s been an emotional week for everyone.
I’ve heard jockeys say their fear isn’t dying on the track; their fear is becoming paralyzed. I don’t know how Ron Turcotte felt on that topic, but he soldiered on and did good work. I enjoyed the anecdote about Doug Davis standing his ground for his pony. The whole racing world was a bit less corporate back then.