‘Personal Decision': Bas Nicholl Will Not Continue As Head Trainer
Sebastian 'Bas' Nicholl, who assumed control of the D. Wayne Lukas barn after the Hall of Fame trainer passed on June 28, will no longer serve as head trainer, reports Daily Racing Form.'I decided not to continue as a racehorse trainer. I do plan to continue as an assistant trainer,' Nicholl told Daily Racing Form Tuesday afternoon. 'It was a personal decision, not something I really want to discuss. It was a very amicable decision, everyone's all good friends. We're going to go ahead and move on.'Nicholl said he has received several offers to continue working as an assistant trainer, but will first help the Lukas family with details regarding Lukas' estate.
Nicholl, a native of England, spent eight years in the British Army and rose to the rank of captain. He was a tank commander in Operation Desert Storm during the First Gulf War in the early 1990s. Nicholl left the British Army in 1995 to work in horse racing for prominent Irish steeplechase trainer Edward O'Grady. In 1999, he came to the United States to work with trainer Pat Byrne before joining Lukas' operation on Jan. 18, 2002.The remaining horses in Nicholl's string will be dispersed.
John Bellinger and Brian Coelho of BC Stables told DRF they will send 15 horses (11 2-year-olds) to trainer Steve Asmussen, including Virginia Derby winner American Promise (currently getting a break at a farm).Calumet Farm's racing manager, Eddie Kane, told DRF that his operation has moved horses to trainer Eoin Harty, Rusty Arnold, and Brendan Walsh.Read more at drf.com.
This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
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