If you have a couple million dollars to spare, you could get yourself a racing saddle. It’s very well made, and it made dreams come true. It is Ron Turcotte’s saddle. Secretariat wore it in his 1973 Triple Crown wins. That is why it’s part of Jim Irsay’s incredible collection of music, sport, literary and historical artifacts that is being auctioned at Christie’s in New York on March 12th.
Kentucky saddler Lee Wincher made the custom-designed saddle early in 1972. Turcotte called it his Big Race saddle, and used it for all his stakes races in 1972 and 1973. In those years Ron was riding for Penny Chenery’s Meadow Stable. So Riva Ridge wore it when he won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes in 1972. And Secretariat wore it as a 2 year old and 3 year old. He wore it in his spectacular Triple Crown wins in 1973.
Secretariat retired to stud at Claiborne Farm at the end of his 3 year old season. Turcotte continued racing. His career as a jockey ended in the 8th race at Belmont Park on July 13, 1978. A fall paralyzed him from the waist down. After he recovered, he and his wife and daughters moved home to the Grand Falls area in northern New Brunswick. The saddle came too.
This special saddle
“This special saddle represents a most magical time in my racing career and its personal significance to me and my family goes beyond words. I have had the privilege of keeping it safe and secure for nearly 50 years, and now it’s time to let others enjoy the treasures in my collection as well.”
That is what Ron Turcotte said in February 2023 when he sold the saddle to Jim Irsay, the late owner of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. It’s the only piece of racing memorabilia in Irsay’s huge collection. But it’s arguably the most significant piece of 20th century racing history that there is. “A holy grail object,” Nathalie Ferneau of Christie’s called Big Red’s saddle.
The saddle weighs anywhere from 5 to 12 pounds, depending on how many, if any, lead weights it has in its pockets. (see it in 3-D) The pockets are placed so that the weights are optimally spread across the saddle, and therefore the horse’s back. The lead weights are with it, each one signed by Ron Turcotte. I don’t know if he autographed them or just put his name on them so they wouldn’t get mixed up with other jockeys’ weights.
It’s a 17” seat and comes with stirrups and leathers as well as the four lead weights. Also included in the lot are “a framed, signed panoramic photograph of Secretariat’s legendary Belmont victory, letter of authenticity from Ron Turcotte, two unframed photographs of Secretariat at Belmont, each signed by Ron Turcotte, copy of 11 June 1972 Newsweek Magazine with ‘Superhorse’ Secretariat on the cover and letter of authenticity.” Well, how could you keep your paddle down?
The Jim Irsay Collection
Jim Irsay’s collection will be sold at three days of auction. In the Hall of Fame sale, as well as the racing saddle, are Ringo Starr’s drum kit, James Brown’s stage cape, guitars belonging to Janis Ian, Kurt Cobain, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Prince and many others. Hunter S. Thompson’s 1973 red Chevrolet Caprice convertible. Pianos belonging to Elton John and John Lennon. Jackie Robinson’s 1953 baseball bat. Bob Dylan’s hand-written lyrics to “The Times They Are a-Changin’” from 1964. That’s just a few items from one sale out of three.
Irsay did not just hoard his collection in his own house. For several years he sent it out travelling across the USA in exhibit and concert tours. He died in May 2025 at the age of 65. I hope each piece in his phenomenal collection finds a person or institution who loves it as much as he did.
- From Friday March 6th through to Thursday March 12th, the collection is open for viewing by the public at Christie’s Auction House in New York City. If you can’t see it there, look around the website.
- Secretariat.com, an unofficial fan site, has more about the saddle and much more on the horse and his connections. Have a look around – it’s great!
- I’ve written about Ron Turcotte and Secretariat a few times here, including the movie about the man and the movie about the horse.
- Recently, I read The Turcottes: The remarkable story of a horse racing dynasty, the 2023 biography of the racing Turcotte brothers by Curtis Stock. Wow! It truly is a remarkable story. Tap the title to see more on Amazon.
After the sale
March 16th: The saddle sold for just over US$1.5 with the buyer’s name undisclosed. A very nice discussion of the collection and its sale, and the good and bad of collecting and breaking up a collection, is in The Observer today, written by Xavier Greenwood.
