LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Jockey Ron Turcotte, who was aboard the great Secretariat for his 1973 Triple Crown, has died. He was 84. 

Churchill Downs posted a picture of Turcotte in the Winner's Circle following his Kentucky Derby win in announcing the passing of the Hall of Fame jockey Friday.

Turcotte rode Secretariat to all but one of his stakes wins and he was also the primary rider on 1972 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner, Riva Ridge. 

Secretariat's 31-length win in the 1973 Belmont Stakes produced one of the most memorable finishes in thoroughbred racing. Turcotte remembered peeking under his arm with a quarter-mile to go and seeing the other horses as mere dots behind him. The racing world had never seen anything like it before or since. 

Secretariat's social media paid tribute to Turcotte on Friday, saying "Ron was a great jockey, a great man, and a great friend, and we will miss him dearly."

The Preakness Stakes said, "Ron wasn't just a jockey, but a legend who defined an era. He will forever be remembered as one of the greats."

Turcotte's racing career, spanning 1961-78, ended when he was left with a spinal cord injury after a spill from a horse during a race at Belmont Park. He was 36 when he was paralyzed from the waist down. He used a wheelchair for the remainder of his life. 

The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund posted a tribute calling Turcotte one of its greatest champions and ambassadors.

"Ron’s tireless advocacy and efforts on behalf of his fellow fallen rider is beyond measure. Although he is appropriately recognized as a member of the Racing Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in the saddle, his contributions to the PDJF established him as a giant in the hearts of all associated with this organization. His memory and his impact will live on forever. Our thoughts and prayers are with Gaëtane, their daughters and his family and friends at this difficult time."

He died Friday in his native New Brunswick, Canada, according to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. 

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