The Turcottes

Now in paperback, the biographical history of a Canadian horse racing dynasty and their rise from underdogs to the top of the thoroughbred racing world.

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“Drawing upon three decades of reporting and interviews, Stock, a veteran of the Edmonton Journal and the Calgary Herald, writes with accessible, energetic prose, blending oral history, family biography, and imaginative techniques drawn from creative nonfiction... It can be hard to resist a sports narrative that mixes rags and riches, triumphs and tragedies. The Turcottes has it all in spades... Stock’s The Turcottes further recognizes Ron Turcotte’s star-studded but often overlooked racing career and determined recovery... Although much of the well-spun hard-luck story of the Turcotte brothers is heartbreaking, once you crack open this book, it’s hard to put down.” — Literary Review of Canada.

Fifty-one years ago, Secretariat, a horse so brilliantly fast and powerful that many of his records still stand, completed his historic Triple Crown victory. Secretariat’s rider was Ron Turcotte, a master of his craft who grew up as one of 14 children in the small lumberjack town of Drummond, New Brunswick.

Four other Turcottes — Noel, Rudy, Roger and Yves — followed their older brother onto North American racetracks and into the winner’s circle. The Turcottes: The Remarkable Story of a Horse Racing Dynasty is the story of this family’s journey from their little corner of the woods to the top of the thoroughbred racing world. Each Turcotte found outstanding success, collectively winning a staggering 8,251 races for purse earnings just shy of $60 million. The name Turcotte meant one thing in thoroughbred racing: winning.

But the jockey’s life takes a toll. Each brother was in a neverending battle to maintain his riding weight. Noel, Rudy and Roger fought the bottle. And then came the losses, the injuries and the heartbreaks. The unlikely triumph of one of horse racing’s greatest families was not without tragedy.

Drawing upon over 30 years of reporting and interviews, journalist Curtis Stock takes readers on an unforgettable ride through the major players and race days of thoroughbred racing. Part biography, part oral history and part creative nonfiction, The Turcottes: The Remarkable Story of a Horse Racing Dynasty is a true underdog story and sure bet for any sports fan.