The rider on the greatest horse in racing history died today. From the CJ:

Ron Turcotte, the legendary jockey who clinched the 1973 Triple Crown on the back of Secretariat, died Aug. 22, according to a post from the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. He was 84.

The Canada-born jockey notched a prolific 18-year Hall of Fame Career, during which he rode to more than 3,000 victories and accumulated more than $28.6 million in career earnings.

Turcotte was also the primary rider of Hall of Fame horse Riva Ridge — a pairing that won the 1972 Kentucky Derby and Belmont.

The museum did not announce a cause of death.

There are plenty of problems with the sport of horse racing. But no one can deny the phenomenon of Secretariat. No need to go into long essays about the horse. Just look at his Triple Crown wins:

Here’s the record breaking performance at the Kentucky Derby:

Two weeks later, he handily won the Preakness:

And for the grand finale, the Belmont Stakes:

Secretariat was voted as one of the 50 greatest athletes of the 20th Century. He was the only non-human on the list.

And Ron Turcotte is in the Racing Hall of Fame. Click here to see his accomplishments.