Hometown honors Hall of Fame jockey and Secretariat’s final rider

Local horse racing legend Eddie Maple is now being honored entering the village of Carrollton with signs coming from the north on state Route 43 at the corner of Bacon Road and at the split of state Route 39 and State Route 43 coming in from Mechanicstown.

“This gesture means more than words can express,” said Maple. “I’m incredibly thankful to Carrollton for the sign honoring my racing career. To be recognized for my racing journey and Hall of Fame induction by my hometown means everything to me.”

These signs are a result of the efforts of residents Randi Bake and Rex Sponhaltz, outgoing Village Administrator Mark Wells and Carrollton Village Council.

“Eddie rode Secretariat in his very last race,” said Bake. “To us, that was the ultimate thing, even though he had a huge, wonderful career besides that. He raced over 35,000 times in 30 years. Eddie told me himself he won first place 4,398 times. That’s unbelievable.”

Edward Retz “Eddie” Maple was born Nov. 8, 1948, in Carrollton, in a large Catholic family with many siblings. His early years in Carrollton were shaped by a love of horses, something that became clear even during his school days.

Maple told Bake and Sponhaltz that as a teenager, he spent much of his time around local farms and horse trainers, particularly near Mechanicstown and the surrounding countryside. People who grew up with him recall that he was far more drawn to the track than the classroom, and eventually he left high school around age 15 to pursue horse racing full time.

Although he didn’t remain in Carrollton into adulthood, stories about Maple circulated among locals for years. Residents who were his neighbors or rode horses with him often remembered him as a talented and fearless young rider. Despite leaving home in the early 1970s, his roots in Carrollton shaped his early path into the racing world.

His skill and longevity ultimately earned him induction into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1993, marking him as one of the sport’s most accomplished jockeys.

Maple’s most famous moment, however, is forever tied to Secretariat, the legendary Triple Crown winner. In 1973, Secretariat’s regular jockey, Ron Turcotte, was unavailable for the horse’s final race, the Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine in Toronto. Maple, who was part of the same racing team, was selected to ride Secretariat in this last historic appearance. He won the race, securing his place in racing history and creating a lasting connection between a small Ohio town and one of the most iconic horses ever known.

When asked about that great ride on Secretariat, Maple responded, “I just hung on for dear life.”

“I just want Eddie to be a little more known around here and to have people understand what an incredible thing a hometown guy achieved,” said Bake. “This is part of showing younger generations that someone from Carrollton went out into the world and did something extraordinary. We’re proud of him. Carrollton should be proud of him.”

Until recently, however, Carrollton had never formally recognized his achievements. That changed when efforts at the Van Horn building restoration highlighted the importance of honoring notable local figures.

According to Sponhaltz, this renewed interest in local history brought attention to Maple’s remarkable journey from a Carrollton teenager to a Hall of Fame jockey who rode Secretariat in the final race of the horse’s career. He would go on to win the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1995 and the Mike Venezia Memorial Award. He was inducted into the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame in 2009.

“Mark Maple and the family were the ones who brought up the idea that Carrollton had never really acknowledged Eddie,” said Bake. “Without them, none of this would’ve happened.”

Bake approached Carrollton Village Council in October 2025 about having signs placed for Maple.

“We talked to Wells and he told us to come ask council about it,” said Bake. Council agreed to the signs and even paid for them. “We are so appreciative of the support from the council and the village of Carrollton. They made it so easy to do this for Eddie and his family. Mark Wells was wonderful. He was instrumental in getting the sign made and wanted to get it all finished before he left office. He made the process smooth from start to finish. Commissioner Robert Wirkner was also very helpful from the county perspective. He explained where signs could go at the county line and supported us looking at options.”

Wells said Municipal Signs made the signs, which produces all the street signs for the village. He sent them what should be on the signs and they sent him proofs. Wells said it was approximately $80 per sign.

“I think it’s a good design and the signs look nice,” said Wells. “I think it is a great project and council was open to doing it for someone who has reached notoriety in the community.”

The signs were installed Jan. 8.

“We want to recognize the citizens of Carrollton who have accomplished something to shine a light on the village and Eddie with his success,” said Sponhaltz.

Maple is 77 years old and currently resides with his wife in South Carolina.