At the age of 89, D. Wayne Lukas, the legendary Hall of Fame trainer who rose to prominence in horse racing, passed away. Following a serious MRSA blood infection that severely harmed his heart and digestive system and made his chronic medical conditions worse, Lukas passed away quietly Saturday night at his home in Louisville, Kentucky, according to his family.
In a moving statement, his family added, “Wayne dedicated his life not only to horses but to the industry — raising generations of horsemen and horsewomen and expanding the game by bringing unwary fans into the winner’s circle.” Wayne brought passion, grace, and tenacity to every aspect of the sport, whether he was gloating about a first-time 2-year-old as the next Kentucky Derby winner or giving sage guidance in the lead-up to a major race.
Over the course of his incredible multi-decade career, Lukas redefined what it meant to be a trainer in contemporary horse racing. He won four Kentucky Derby races and an incredible fifteen Triple Crown contests.
The only person with more Triple Crown titles is his close friend Bob Baffert. With 20 victories in that series alone, Lukas also tied the record for the most Breeders’ Cup World Championships victories.
Before he saddled up for his 34th and final Preakness Stakes in May, Lukas revealed, “I think the whole secret of this game is being able to read the horse.” Read what he can and cannot do, as well as what he needs and doesn’t require.
That is the entire secret. Lukas, who is lovingly referred to as “Coach” at the stables and racetracks, began his career as a high school basketball coach before switching to racehorse training, which is evidence of his perseverance and work ethic. He was still out at dawn on horseback, personally supervising the training sessions at his stable as he neared his 90th birthday.
He was the middle child of three and was born Darnell Wayne Lukas in Wisconsin on September 2, 1935. Before transitioning to thoroughbred racing in the late 1970s, he started his racing career with quarter horses, the track’s swift sprinters. When he and Codex won the Preakness Stakes in 1980, it was his big league debut.
During his illustrious career, Lukas collected over $310 million in purse money from over 30,600 starts and amassed 4,967 thoroughbred racing victories. The game was permanently altered by his commitment and unparalleled sense of horse talent.
“Today we lost one of the great champions of Churchill Downs and one of the most significant figures in Thoroughbred racing over the last 50 years,” said Bill Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill Downs Inc., in a statement praising Lukas’s influence on the sport.
We will miss his sense of humor, his insight, and his unparalleled ability to enthrall the crowd with his horses’ performances on the most important days in our sport.
Surprisingly, Lukas’ career took off in the last few years. He demonstrated his ongoing talent and love for the sport by winning the Preakness Stakes with Seize the Grey just last year. Thinking back on his unwavering commitment, Lukas once offered guidance that demonstrated his coach-like approach: “If you have a passion, you eliminate all the excuses.” That’s how it functions. You rise early. You don’t eat anything.
You are a driver. As long as you have passion, you can continue without sleep. D. Wayne Lukas, a man whose enthusiasm, work ethic, and love of horses defined horse racing for future generations, will be remembered as a real giant of the sport from the barns to the grandstands.