42 years ago today, Grand Falls, New Brunswick's Ron Turcotte rode the great horse Secretariat to a Triple Crown win at the Belmont Stakes.

Turcotte, 73, still lives in his hometown of Grand Falls, just across the border from the northern towns in Aroostook County.

While American Pharoah and Victor Espinoza are getting attention these days for winning the first Triple Crown in 37 years over the weekend, it should be noted that Secretariat and Turcotte won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes in 1973 - the first Triple Crown since 1948 (25 years).

Five years later, in 1978, Turcotte was left paralyzed from the waist down after a racing spill. He had won over 3,000 races at the time of his accident.

Many racing observers say Secretariat was the greatest race horse ever.

Getty Images, Steve Cauthen(Affirmed),Ron Turcotte(Secretariat),Jean Cruguet(Seattle Slew)
Getty Images, Steve Cauthen(Affirmed),Ron Turcotte(Secretariat),Jean Cruguet(Seattle Slew)
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