Grand Falls to Unveil Monument of Famous Jockey Ron Turcotte

A monument honoring legendary jockey Ron Turcotte will be unveiled this summer in his hometown of Grand Falls.

Mayor Richard Keeley confirmed the news at a Grand Falls town council meeting Tuesday night, according to Acadie Nouvelle. The event will take place in the afternoon of Sunday, July 19 on Broadway Boulevard.

Turcotte became internationally renowned in 1973 when he rode Secretariat to win the Triple Crown. The monument has been in the works since 2011, a few months after the release of the film Secretariat by Walt Disney Pictures.

Mayor Keeley says the monument will be an important tourist attraction for Grand Falls and the region. Artist Yves Thériault of Monuments Sainte-Anne is putting the finishing touches on the statue of the legendary jockey and his famous horse.

The 73-year-old Turcotte is still recovering from a serious accident this winter on the Trans Canada Highway near Four Falls, New Brunswick.  Turcotte broke both his legs when his van hit an icy patch and rolled over on March 9.