From Victory to Disaster. Story of Turcottes

The Turcottes led such extraordinary lives that it's surprising there haven't been more books written about them.

The most remarkable moment in the Turcotte family's history is an unbeaten record – Ron Turcotte rode Secretariat to achieve the fastest Triple Crown victory ever recorded. Last year marked the 50th anniversary of those remarkable races.

The Turcotte family, consisting of the parents, Mum and Dad, along with their 14 children, grew up in poverty as lumberjacks in Drummond, N.B. The boys labored in the woods, with some hauling logs using teams of horses, while others rode timber rafts downstream to the mill.

This line of work was highly perilous, prompting the eldest son, Camille, to pursue better opportunities in Ontario. Eventually, five more Turcotte brothers followed suit and made the journey to Ontario as well.

In 1960, Ron Turcotte and his friend Reggie Pelletier arrived in Toronto with little money to their names. They managed to secure a job picking worms for fishing shops, earning a mere three dollars for their laborious efforts in gathering nightcrawlers. Despite their attempts, they struggled to find any other employment opportunities. Feeling defeated by the challenges of the bustling city, the teenagers decided to hitchhike back home. However, fate took an unexpected turn when their landlord invited Ron to watch the Kentucky Derby on television.

As Ron stood there, captivated by the blurry black and white spectacle, the landlord looked at him, noticing his small stature, as if seeing him in a new light. The landlord suggested to Ron that he should consider becoming a jockey. Although unfamiliar with the term, Ron took his friend Reggie to the newly established Woodbine track the following morning. With their compact frames and size of 4 ½ feet, they stumbled upon entry-level work in EP Taylor's barn. Thus began the legacy of the Turcotte racing dynasty.

The death rate for professional jockeys is 12.8 out of 1,000. When a horse falls during the final stretch, it creates a high-impact collision due to its large mass and high velocity. The starting gates are even riskier, as the anxious 1,000-pound animals and small riders are tightly confined in steel structures. Serious injuries are common in these situations. Jockeys often use diuretics and laxatives to lose weight constantly. It is estimated that a significant percentage, possibly 40%, of all jockeys suffer from bulimia. Jockeys experience various health issues such as blood disorders, kidney damage, osteoporosis, chronic concussions, and painkiller addictions.

While there are a few extreme sports like BASE jumping or mammoth wave surfing, horse racing can be argued as the most dangerous sport in the world. Therefore, "The Turcottes," while celebrating the significant achievements of one family, also highlights the numerous tragic losses they have experienced.

For Ron and all jockeys, weight reduction is of utmost importance. Ron started his career weighing 125 pounds, but he needed to quickly lose twenty pounds in order to ride. He went on an extreme diet for two months, eating only one small salad a day and sometimes inducing vomiting. He also took laxatives and diuretics and exercised by running several miles daily while wearing a heavy rubber suit.

Ron Turcotte achieved his desired weight and became the most successful jockey in Canada. In his first year, he won more races than the combined total of the next three jockeys. He earned 10% of the horses' earnings, which amounts to $400,000 US at a time when the minimum wage is $1.15. Ron saves every penny he earns.

Noel, Ron's younger brother, became the first Turcotte in their family's history to graduate from high school. In 1963, he looked at his 5-foot-1 reflection in the mirror and decided to join Ron as a jockey in the western part of the country. Surprisingly, after only seven races, Noel began consistently winning.

By 1964, Ron Turcotte became the highest-earning athlete in Canada, while Noel also enjoyed a substantial income from racing. Their younger brother, Rudy, who was 16 years old, left the family farm in New Brunswick and joined them in the world of horse racing. Weighing 95 pounds, he was well-suited for the sport. In his debut season in 1968, Rudy earned almost enough money to buy himself a new 12-cylinder Jaguar, which is parked in his driveway. Rudy possessed a natural talent for riding and benefited from the guidance of his brilliant mentor, Ron. However, he had a predisposition for living and playing recklessly, and danger lurks in the background.

Towards the end of 1969, Rudy suffered a severe fall during a race, resulting in numerous broken bones. Many people believed he had lost his life, but this incident was only the beginning of the injuries he would endure.

From Difficulty to a Challenge

In 1970, a colossal foal was born, displaying three white socks and a chestnut coat. The Jockey Club rejects five potential names before settling on the sixth option: Secretariat.

Ron Turcotte, already established as an exceptional rider, possessed a profound understanding of his horses that is almost enchanting to observe. Through subtle cues and strategic patience, he guided one challenging horse after another to success on the racetrack. By the time Secretariat reached the age of two, Ron had discovered how to fully capitalise on the abilities of the swiftest horse in history. Among his astute decisions, Ron allowed the Secretariat to start the races from the very back. For some reason, the Secretariat preferred it that way. Regarding these slow starts, Ron remarked:

"He has a mind of his own - wants to run his own way and that's alright with me. I allowed him to get himself together. I didn't change tactics. He just wants time to settle into stride. Once he starts running though, there's no horse who can beat him right now."

In 1973, an extraordinary event unfolded as the Kentucky Derby captured the attention of half the television viewers in North America. Secretariat, initially positioned towards the rear of the pack, gradually surged forward and secured fifth place as they approached the final stretch. However, what transpired next was unprecedented and left spectators awe-struck. Secretariat, affectionately known as 'Big Red,' displayed a level of speed and performance that had never been witnessed before. While other horses typically slow down as a race progresses due to exhaustion, Secretariat continued to gain absolute speed with each quarter of the race.

The first quarter was completed in a remarkable 25.2 seconds, followed by even faster times in the next two quarters. In the final quarter, Secretariat blazed through in a flat 23 seconds. This extraordinary display of speed resulted in Secretariat becoming the first horse in the history of the Derby to break the two-minute mark. Just two weeks later, Ron Turcotte and Secretariat again amazed spectators at the Preakness held at Pimlico. Starting from last place, they swiftly manoeuvred their way to the front, shattering the track's speed record.

At the Belmont Stakes, the highly anticipated final leg of the Triple Crown, Ron Turcotte found himself engaged in a fierce competition with Nelson Pincay, another esteemed jockey of that era. Their horses raced side by side, leading the pack by an astonishing ten lengths. Turcotte, burying his face in Secretariat's mane, summoned an extraordinary burst of speed, propelling them to a victory that defied all expectations. Remarkably, Turcotte never once used his whip during the race. They crossed the finish line an astounding 31 lengths ahead of their competitors.

Curtis Stock likened this remarkable feat to iconic sporting achievements such as Roger Bannister's four-minute mile and Bob Beamon's legendary long jump in Mexico City. The horse racing world had never witnessed anything of this magnitude. Eleven million people bore witness to this historic moment, and many winning tickets were left uncashed, as the memory of witnessing such a monumental event outweighed the desire for monetary gain. Ron Turcotte, after a 25-year gap, became the first jockey to win the coveted Triple Crown.

Racing Towards the Finish Line

Roger Turcotte left school during his tenth grade and joined his brothers in the world of racing. With four Turcottes competing on the track, they achieved numerous victories. Roger, who was a skilled jockey, felt bitter about not winning the Apprentice of the Year award and harboured anger within him. He tended to drink excessively. Rudy also struggled with weight management and indulged in more drinking than he should.

Noel faced the hardship of starvation and finally gave up after stepping on the scale and seeing 117 lbs. Within a few weeks, he gained weight and reached 138 lbs.

During 1976 and 1977, Ron continued to have a successful racing career, earning substantial amounts of money. Rudy also had a million-dollar racing season. However, Roger and Noel faced difficulties. Rudy was involved in an accident that resulted in the death of a fellow jockey. Shortly after, Ron, at the age of 36, became paralysed from the waist down due to a track incident. Despite achieving over 3000 wins and earning $30 million throughout his career, Ron's riding days came to an end. He dedicated himself to rehabilitation, displaying the determination of an athlete.

Roger's excessive drinking persisted. His fiancé gave him an ultimatum.

Yves, the youngest of the Turcottes, visited Roger and decided to commit to a life in horse racing. He took on the job of cleaning out stalls and faced the challenges of harsh pharmaceuticals, sweatboxes, and starvation. Yves managed to reduce his weight to 105 pounds.

In 1981, he became the fifth Turcotte to win as a jockey.

Noel succumbed to alcohol and struggled to maintain a healthy weight. Roger was depressed but refused to get therapy. Rudy, the smallest among the brothers, became the heaviest. Despite earning over a million dollars when it carried significant value, Rudy mishandled his finances and eventually lost all the money.