Secretariat's Saddle from Historic Triple Crown Victory Sells for Record $1.5M at Auction

The saddle Hall of Fame jockey Ron Turcotte used during Secretariat's 1973 Triple Crown win made racing history with its sale price during a Thursday auction at Christie's.

Turcotte's saddle, which was most recently owed by the estate of late Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, sold for $1.524 million to an undisclosed buyer.

That marks the highest public auction price ever paid for racing memorabilia, according to Thoroughbred Daily News.

The saddle was custom made for Turcotte ahead of the 1972 Bluegrass Stakes, according to Christie's.

Secretariat wore the gear for 11 races during his three-year-old season, including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes that earned him his Triple Crown in 1973.

This marks the first time the saddle has been put up for public sale, per the auction house. The buyer also received a letter of provenance from Turcotte, as well as a framed photograph of Secretariat's historic 31-length Belmont victory signed by Turcotte.

Irsay originally bought the saddle from Turcotte in a reported $2 million private sale in 2023.

The late Colts owner died at age 65 in May 2025. Turcotte passed three months later at age 84.

Secretariat's saddle is one of multiple major memorabilia items from Irsay's estate headed to auction.

Other notable items from Irsay's collection, which are being sold by Christie's across four major auctions this March in New York and online, including boxing gloves and a weigh-in robe used by Muhammad Ali as well as a game bat used by Jackie Robinson.