D Wayne Lukas dies aged 89
Legendary American trainer D Wayne Lukas has died at the age of 89.
It was announced on Monday that he had been forced to retire due to serious health issues and he was to leave hospital to spend his final days with his family at his home in Louisville, Kentucky.
Lukas died on Saturday evening and a statement from his family on the Churchill Downs website read: "It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of legendary Hall of Fame trainer D Wayne Lukas.
"Wayne dedicated his life to Thoroughbred racing—not only through his unmatched success on the track, but through his impact on the people within it. He shaped generations of horsemen and horsewomen, and helped grow the sport with his passion, vision, and leadership.
"Whether he was touting a promising two-year-old or quietly offering advice before a big race, Wayne brought heart, grace, and grit to every part of the game.
"At this time, we ask you to please join us in a moment of silence to honour the memory of D Wayne Lukas."
Lukas, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999, won the Kentucky Derby four times among his 15 Triple Crown race wins and had 20 victories at the Breeders' Cup, a record matched only by Aidan O'Brien.
It had already been announced that long-serving assistant, Englishman Sebastian Bas' Nicholl will take over the running of his stable.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Tomos Williams Lions tour is over, Hugo Keenan and Jamison Gibson-Park make first start
The British & Irish Lions have confirmed Welsh scrumhalf Tomos Williams suffered a tour-ending hamstring injury last weekend, while Hugo Keenan and Jamison Gibson-Park will get their first starts in Wednesday's match against the Queensland Reds. Maro Itoje has been recalled and will captain the team, having led the Lions in their loss to Argentina in Dublin on 20 June. Williams sustained the injury scoring his second try in the 54-7 victory over Western Force in Perth last Saturday and will be replaced in the squad by Scotland's Ben White. Gloucester scrumhalf Williams was the Premiership Rugby Player of the Season, and Lions coach Andy Farrell said his loss robbed the group of an outstanding player. "We've only been together for a few weeks now but his character is everything for a Lions tour you want to have in your group," Farrell told a press conference on Monday. "He's very popular amongst the group so that makes it a little bit tougher for all." Farrell again rung the changes in his team for Wednesday's second tour match in Australia against the Reds at Brisbane's Lang Park. Itoje, who , returns to the second row in partnership with Ollie Chessum at the heart of a new-look pack after hooker Dan Sheehan captained the side against the Force. Fullback Keenan and scrumhalf Gibson-Park, who were both struggling with niggles, will get their first taste of action on the tour in a backline again steered by flyhalf Finn Russell. Keenan had been carrying a calf injury in recent weeks but said the plan was always for him to return for the Reds game. "It's been pretty smooth sailing... and now just excited to get stuck in and get out there with the lads," the 29-year-old told reporters. Jack Conan, the only specialist number eight in the squad, replaces young Englishman Henry Pollock in a back row completed by Welsh openside Jac Morgan and blindside Tom Curry. Farrell said Williams' replacement White and fullback Blair Kinghorn would join the camp later on Monday. In Kinghorn's case, his celebrations with Toulouse had been cut short to join the Lions, days after helping the French team win the Top 14 title. "Here we are now. It's proper touring, isn't it?" said Farrell. "Games are coming thick and fast now. "Not much training out there on the field but plenty of mental preparation." On the 2013 tour of Australia, the Lions beat the Reds 22-12 in Brisbane. Lions: Hugo Keenan, Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Bundee Aki, Duhan van der Merwe, Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Conan, Jac Morgan, Tom Curry, Ollie Chessum, Maro Itoje (captain), Will Stuart, Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter.
Irish Examiner
10 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Fatigue and fundamental errors leave Ireland exposed again against USA
International friendly: USA 4 (Lynn Biyendolo 11, Izzy Rodriguez 42, Yasmine Ryan 66, Alyssa Thompson 86) Ireland 0 In the Land of the free, Ireland were prone to presenting gifts to their American hosts. This pair of friendlies against the top ranked nation in the world were billed as ideal preparation for the Uefa Nations League playoff against Belgium in October. That sales pitch was compromised once USA manager Emma Hayes excused all bar one of her foreign-based players for the exercises. Hence the team she fielded in Thursday's first outing in Colorado was akin to a second string. That she chose to change the entire XI from that 4-0 stroll for this rematch indicated she was dipping into her third selection of personnel. That scoreline was easily repeated here but the biggest cheer of the sweltering afternoon came when the turkey shoot was complete, the introduction of Rose Lavelle for her 112th cap. Renowned as the Queen of her City, the centurion with an Irish grandfather was hardly needed here to execute another hiding for Ireland. Fundamental lapses again hurt Ireland, from the eleventh minute when the defence was sprung to allow captain Lynn Biyendolo volley home, to four minutes from the end as Alyssa Thompson roamed clear to beat Courtney Brosnan. Extracting positives will be difficult. Carla Ward can point to the absences of their two marquee players, Katie McCabe and Denise O'Sullivan, yet the lack of effort on goal over the 180 minutes is still telling. When opportunities arose from that traditional route of set-pieces, Ireland were substandard. Anna Patten was unable to connect properly with Chloe Mustaki's free-kick while substitute Megan Connolly sent her delivery straight into the goalkeeper's hands. Overall, it seemed the distance between the teams was far wider than 24 places in Fifa's standings. Kyra Carusa did get one sight in the first half, only to ripple the sidenet when set up by her strike partner Saoirse Noonan. Patten told RTÉ: 'Words cannot describe how difficult it was. Playing against a team of that calibre with a two-day break in that heat was ridiculous. 'We didn't have enough options when we had the ball. That's when we can get our breath. Our aim is to get to Brazil and it's important to know what it feels like and how best we can prepare in this temperature.' It marks the third 4-0 defeat in eight games in the Ward era but the most damaging was the loss to a Slovenian side in February ranked behind them. Margin for error in League B was minimal for Ireland to regain their spot in the top tier and by the end of the six-match series a second placed finish left Ireland needing to overcome the Belgians for an easier path to another World Cup when the qualifiers kick off next February. This was another victory earned at pedestrian pace. Mustaki was caught upfield, enabling Emily Sams to bomb down the right and float a cross for Biyendolo to volley into the top corner. Chances continued to flow for the hosts and their second arrived three minutes before the break when Ireland failed to clear. Brosnan did well to keep out Sears from point-blank range but the rebound fell kindly for Izzy Rodriguez to crown her debut with a first goal. Fatigue clearly kicking off, Ward rang changes at the break without it altering the pattern of dominance. On 66 minutes, Coffey showed determination to keep the ball from crossing the endline. Two passes later and Yasmine Ryan was able to smash a low drive into the bottom corner. Damage limitation continued for Ireland but they were unable to avoid a fourth. Thompson, considered one of the few first-choices to feature, made an instant impact off the bench by ghosting in behind and finishing with aplomb. Ward spoke afterwards about getting her players home safely and it's questionable the value of these humblings were for the competitive contest in four months' time. USA: M McGlynn; E Sams, J Bugg, T McKeown; C Bethune (A Sentnor 63), S Meza (R Lavelle 87), I Rodriguez, L Biyendolo (S Coffey 63); O Moultrie (C Hutton 80), E Sears, Y Ryan (A Thompson 80). IRELAND: C Brosnan; J Stapleton, C Hayes, A Patten, C Mustaki (H Nolan 46); E Murphy (M Connolly 46), T Toland, M Sheva, A Larkin (Lucy Quinn 80); K Carusa, S Noonan (A Barrett 60). Referee: Janeishka Caban (Puerto Rico)
Irish Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ireland suffer second four-goal defeat to USA in stifling Cincinnati heat
A second comprehensive beating in three days and plenty to stew over ahead of the Nations League play-off. Belgium, October's opponents in the battle for top-tier football in next year's World Cup qualifiers, won't pack the same punch as the USA, long-term occupants of the number one spot in FIFA's world rankings. But they are still five places above 25th-ranked Ireland and they picked up wins against England and Portugal in their recent Nations League campaign. And they won't be intimidated by an Irish side that barely made it out of their half on Sunday in Cincinnati, against a rampant US outfit. Carla Ward will struggle to pick too many positives out of this experience, other than the fact that wave after wave of American attack didn't lead to a more humbling defeat. Fresh from the 4-0 reversal in Colorado, Ward made four changes to her starting-11, with Tyler Toland, Marissa Sheva, Saoirse Noonan and Abbie Larkin coming into the side. However, the same goalkeeper and defenders that started the first game quickly found themselves under siege once again. The hosts targeted the left side of the Irish defence and Chloe Mustaki struggled to deal with the pace and movement of Emma Hayes' world-class stars. It wasn't just Mustaki who struggled. Even after half-time, when she was replaced by Megan Connolly, the majority of US attacks came down that flank. Played in an intense 31-degree heat in front of just over 24,000 fans, not even a water break midway through each half could halt the USA's forward momentum. Having opened the scoring in the 18th minute in Colorado, they were off the mark even earlier on Sunday. It took Lynn Biyendolo just 11 minutes to score her 25th senior international goal. Emma Seers found herself in plenty of space down the right and she made no mistake in picking out the run of Biyendolo. The finish was clinical; a smooth side-footed volley from eight yards high into the left-hand corner of Courtney Brosnan's net. With the hosts camped inside Irish territory, the attacks continued at a frightening pace, with goalscorer Biyendolo coming close to connecting with a free-kick in the 16th minute. Another attack down the Irish left saw Biyendolo's effort blocked by Jessie Stapleton, but only into the path of Croix Bethune, whose first-time effort curled just wide of the upright. There was little the Irish defence could do to contain Biyendolo and she had the ball in the net again on 24 minutes, but the whistle had already gone for a foul on Stapleton in the build-up. Moments later Kyra Carusa was back helping out her defence with an important block to deny Bethune, while Mustaki then put her body between a Bethune shot and the goal. When Yazmeen Ryan was teed by by another Seers cross from the left, nine minutes before half-time, the chance was identical to the opener, but the finish was not, as the ball sailed high and wide of the target. A second goal seemed inevitable and it came in the 42nd minute, much to the dismay of Brosnan, who had just pulled off a fine save to deny Seers. However, as the ball broke loose in the Irish penalty area, Izzy Rodriguez reacted quickest to smash the ball into the unguarded net. Once again, it was all too easy for the US as Bethune and Olivia Moultrie managed to work the ball into Seers deep inside the box. Half-time came and went, with Ward making three changes, but with little effect on the direction of traffic. Biyendolo came close twice in the minutes after the break, first with a volley that she couldn't steer on target and then with a ghosting run and angled drive that was beaten away by Brosnan. Moultrie latched onto a loose pass inside by Caitlin Hayes and shot narrowly wide from 18 yards, with Ryan screaming for the ball inside her. The third goal came in the 66th minute when the outstanding Seers kept the ball in place on the right end-line, laid it back to Moultrie and her low cross was swept home by Yazmeen Ryan. With four minutes to go, the US made it a pair of 4-0 wins when substitute Alyssa Thompson raced between Stapleton and Hayes to finish past Brosnan. USA: Mandy McGlynn; Emily Sams, Jordyn Bugg, Tara McKeown, Izzy Rodriguez; Sam Meza (Rose Lavelle 87), Olivia Moultrie (Catherine Hutton 80); Emma Sears, Croix Bethune (Allyson Sentnor 63), Yazmeen Ryan (Alyssa Thompson 80); Lynn Biyendolo (Sam Coffey 63). Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Jessie Stapleton, Anna Patten (Ruesha Littlejohn 73), Caitlin Hayes, Chloe Mustaki (Megan Connolly 46); Tyler Toland (Izzy Atkinson 84), Marissa Sheva; Emily Murphy (Hayley Nolan 46), Kyra Carusa, Abbie Larkin (Lucy Quinn 46); Saoirse Noonan (Amber Barrett 58).
