Latest news with #Lukas
The Irish Sun
20-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
I'm raising my toddler on a desert island… he loves daily swims & crab hunting, but it's not easy when he's sick
WALKING along the island's crystal-clear shoreline, my partner Heinrich and I smiled as our two year old excitedly pointed to a blue starfish. But we weren't on holiday – we were enjoying our morning walk, because we are the only residents of Advertisement 4 Ruby Holmes is raising her son Lukas on One Tree Island in Australia's Great Barrier Reef 4 Ruby and her partner Heinrich are station managers and the island's only residents In October 2019, Heinrich and I moved here after a friend sent us details of two job vacancies for research station managers to host visiting researchers. I'd grown up near the coast in Australia and had a degree in marine biology, while Heinrich had worked as a free diver on a remote island, so we were excited to learn we'd both been successful in our interviews. When we arrived, I was blown away by the beauty. Advertisement We had to go six weeks without a food delivery Surrounded by clear ocean, 100km from the mainland and 20km from the nearest island, it felt like our own paradise. We'd been working in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga on boats, so it was great to have more space to explore nature and not feel so confined. But when the Covid pandemic struck a few months later, it felt very isolating. We had to go six weeks without a food delivery, and while we were prepared so didn't go hungry, I was craving texture after weeks of eating frozen fruit and veg. Then, in 2021, our island life was left in jeopardy when I became pregnant, as children weren't then allowed to live on One Tree. Advertisement UK's loneliest school on remote island offers free accommodation & £41k salary - but you have a long way to get there Luckily, The University of Sydney, which manages the station, put a child policy in place. So, we left the island to give birth and returned with our baby three months later. We questioned if we were doing the right thing, but Lukas adores his daily swims and kayaking with Heinrich. Of course, having a baby presented a whole new set of challenges. Our days start earlier, as Lukas loves a 5am wake-up, but the sunrises over the reef are so beautiful that we now adore going for an early morning family walk. Advertisement New challenges He enjoys looking for crabs and likes the porcupine rays. One night, I even found a mother green sea turtle in our front room! People assume our life is easy, but it's not always. Just before Lukas turned two, he caught scarlet fever from a researcher. Thankfully, we were able to talk to a doctor on the phone and use antibiotics we keep in our locked medical kit. Advertisement Work-wise, we are constantly on call, and because we both work full-time we have an au pair living with us to help with Lukas. 4 Ruby says Lukas adores his live on the island 4 One Tree Island is surrounded by clear ocean, 100km from the mainland and 20km from the nearest island Of course, Heinrich and I argue, but we have great communication skills, which is important when you live and work in close proximity. We also respect each other's space – I love to do workouts to blow off steam, while Heinrich has his workshop he can retreat to. Advertisement We can't always get deliveries, so we plan food, medical supplies, fuel, you name it. Unpredictable weather We order groceries fortnightly, which come by barge to Heron Island, which can be a two-hour boat trip for us, depending on the weather. There's no dash to the store for late-night snacks, which means we eat pretty healthily! The unpredictable weather can be stressful, and while we've not had a major cyclone, there are evacuation plans in place. We have satellite phones and internet, but we can't just pop over to visit family and friends, who we miss. Advertisement I don't worry about Lukas socialising, because researchers sometimes bring children with them and friends and family do visit. We also try to get off the island three times a year, and go on holidays. For now, we plan to have Lukas We feel so lucky to be bringing him up in a simple way without television or tablets. Hopefully, this experience stays with Lukas and he always remembers the remote paradise we were lucky enough to call home.' Advertisement
Scottish Sun
20-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
I'm raising my toddler on a desert island… he loves daily swims & crab hunting, but it's not easy when he's sick
Ruby Holmes, 32, and her partner found a unique job on a stunning paradise island MY CASTAWAY LIFE I'm raising my toddler on a desert island… he loves daily swims & crab hunting, but it's not easy when he's sick WALKING along the island's crystal-clear shoreline, my partner Heinrich and I smiled as our two year old excitedly pointed to a blue starfish. But we weren't on holiday – we were enjoying our morning walk, because we are the only residents of One Tree Island in the Pacific Ocean, where we're raising our son Lukas. 4 Ruby Holmes is raising her son Lukas on One Tree Island in Australia's Great Barrier Reef 4 Ruby and her partner Heinrich are station managers and the island's only residents In October 2019, Heinrich and I moved here after a friend sent us details of two job vacancies for research station managers to host visiting researchers. I'd grown up near the coast in Australia and had a degree in marine biology, while Heinrich had worked as a free diver on a remote island, so we were excited to learn we'd both been successful in our interviews. When we arrived, I was blown away by the beauty. We had to go six weeks without a food delivery Surrounded by clear ocean, 100km from the mainland and 20km from the nearest island, it felt like our own paradise. We'd been working in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga on boats, so it was great to have more space to explore nature and not feel so confined. But when the Covid pandemic struck a few months later, it felt very isolating. We had to go six weeks without a food delivery, and while we were prepared so didn't go hungry, I was craving texture after weeks of eating frozen fruit and veg. Then, in 2021, our island life was left in jeopardy when I became pregnant, as children weren't then allowed to live on One Tree. UK's loneliest school on remote island offers free accommodation & £41k salary - but you have a long way to get there Luckily, The University of Sydney, which manages the station, put a child policy in place. So, we left the island to give birth and returned with our baby three months later. We questioned if we were doing the right thing, but Lukas adores his daily swims and kayaking with Heinrich. Of course, having a baby presented a whole new set of challenges. Our days start earlier, as Lukas loves a 5am wake-up, but the sunrises over the reef are so beautiful that we now adore going for an early morning family walk. New challenges He enjoys looking for crabs and likes the porcupine rays. One night, I even found a mother green sea turtle in our front room! People assume our life is easy, but it's not always. Just before Lukas turned two, he caught scarlet fever from a researcher. Thankfully, we were able to talk to a doctor on the phone and use antibiotics we keep in our locked medical kit. Work-wise, we are constantly on call, and because we both work full-time we have an au pair living with us to help with Lukas. 4 Ruby says Lukas adores his live on the island 4 One Tree Island is surrounded by clear ocean, 100km from the mainland and 20km from the nearest island Of course, Heinrich and I argue, but we have great communication skills, which is important when you live and work in close proximity. We also respect each other's space – I love to do workouts to blow off steam, while Heinrich has his workshop he can retreat to. We can't always get deliveries, so we plan food, medical supplies, fuel, you name it. Unpredictable weather We order groceries fortnightly, which come by barge to Heron Island, which can be a two-hour boat trip for us, depending on the weather. There's no dash to the store for late-night snacks, which means we eat pretty healthily! The unpredictable weather can be stressful, and while we've not had a major cyclone, there are evacuation plans in place. We have satellite phones and internet, but we can't just pop over to visit family and friends, who we miss. I don't worry about Lukas socialising, because researchers sometimes bring children with them and friends and family do visit. We also try to get off the island three times a year, and go on holidays. For now, we plan to have Lukas home-schooled on the island, but we don't yet know what the future holds. We feel so lucky to be bringing him up in a simple way without television or tablets. Hopefully, this experience stays with Lukas and he always remembers the remote paradise we were lucky enough to call home.'
The Sun
20-07-2025
- The Sun
I'm raising my toddler on a desert island… he loves daily swims & crab hunting, but it's not easy when he's sick
WALKING along the island's crystal-clear shoreline, my partner Heinrich and I smiled as our two year old excitedly pointed to a blue starfish. But we weren't on holiday – we were enjoying our morning walk, because we are the only residents of One Tree Island in the Pacific Ocean, where we're raising our son Lukas. 4 In October 2019, Heinrich and I moved here after a friend sent us details of two job vacancies for research station managers to host visiting researchers. I'd grown up near the coast in Australia and had a degree in marine biology, while Heinrich had worked as a free diver on a remote island, so we were excited to learn we'd both been successful in our interviews. When we arrived, I was blown away by the beauty. Surrounded by clear ocean, 100km from the mainland and 20km from the nearest island, it felt like our own paradise. We'd been working in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga on boats, so it was great to have more space to explore nature and not feel so confined. But when the Covid pandemic struck a few months later, it felt very isolating. We had to go six weeks without a food delivery, and while we were prepared so didn't go hungry, I was craving texture after weeks of eating frozen fruit and veg. Then, in 2021, our island life was left in jeopardy when I became pregnant, as children weren't then allowed to live on One Tree. UK's loneliest school on remote island offers free accommodation & £41k salary - but you have a long way to get there Luckily, The University of Sydney, which manages the station, put a child policy in place. So, we left the island to give birth and returned with our baby three months later. We questioned if we were doing the right thing, but Lukas adores his daily swims and kayaking with Heinrich. Of course, having a baby presented a whole new set of challenges. Our days start earlier, as Lukas loves a 5am wake-up, but the sunrises over the reef are so beautiful that we now adore going for an early morning family walk. New challenges He enjoys looking for crabs and likes the porcupine rays. One night, I even found a mother green sea turtle in our front room! People assume our life is easy, but it's not always. Just before Lukas turned two, he caught scarlet fever from a researcher. Thankfully, we were able to talk to a doctor on the phone and use antibiotics we keep in our locked medical kit. Work-wise, we are constantly on call, and because we both work full-time we have an au pair living with us to help with Lukas. 4 4 Of course, Heinrich and I argue, but we have great communication skills, which is important when you live and work in close proximity. We also respect each other's space – I love to do workouts to blow off steam, while Heinrich has his workshop he can retreat to. We can't always get deliveries, so we plan food, medical supplies, fuel, you name it. Unpredictable weather We order groceries fortnightly, which come by barge to Heron Island, which can be a two-hour boat trip for us, depending on the weather. There's no dash to the store for late-night snacks, which means we eat pretty healthily! The unpredictable weather can be stressful, and while we've not had a major cyclone, there are evacuation plans in place. We have satellite phones and internet, but we can't just pop over to visit family and friends, who we miss. I don't worry about Lukas socialising, because researchers sometimes bring children with them and friends and family do visit. We also try to get off the island three times a year, and go on holidays. For now, we plan to have Lukas home-schooled on the island, but we don't yet know what the future holds. We feel so lucky to be bringing him up in a simple way without television or tablets. Hopefully, this experience stays with Lukas and he always remembers the remote paradise we were lucky enough to call home.'
New Paper
01-07-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Legendary trainer Lukas dies at 89
LOUISVILLE - American Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who saddled four Kentucky Derby winners among his 15 winners of US Triple Crown races, has died at the age of 89, his family said on June 29. In a statement released through Churchill Downs, the family said Lukas died at home on June 28 night, a week after a blood infection had sent him to hospital and he decided not to pursue aggressive treatment. "We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers and support from all corners of the racing community - from racetracks across the country to lifelong friends and respected rivals, and from fans who never missed a post parade when 'Lukas' was listed in the programme," the family said. Lukas was one of the most accomplished trainers in US racing history. His 15 Triple Crown victories are second only to Bob Baffert's 17 and he is tied with Ireland's Aidan O'Brien for most Breeders' Cup wins for a trainer with 20. He saddled his most recent Triple Crown race winner in 2024 with Seize The Grey in the Preakness Stakes - his seventh Preakness triumph. "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," Bill Carstanjen, chief executive of Churchill Downs Incorporated, said in a statement. "We will miss his humour, his wisdom and his unmatched capacity to thrill the fans with the performances of his horses on our sport's biggest days." The Breeders' Cup issued a statement hailing Lukas' innovative training approach and a legacy that "continues through the many horsemen who came up under his astute guidance before finding tremendous success on their own. "The dedication, discipline, passion, and insight with which he ran his operation will serve as an inspiration for many generations." National Thoroughbred Racing Association president Tom Rooney said it was "hard to imagine" racing without Lukas. "His horsemanship reshaped the sport," said Rooney. "If there's a Mount Rushmore of trainers, D. Wayne Lukas is on it." Churchill Downs had confirmed last week that the horses in Lukas' care had been transferred to his veteran assistant of over 20 years, Sebastian "Bas" Nicholl. In a career spanning six decades, Lukas amassed 4,967 documented thoroughbred wins, and more than US$310 million (S$395 million) from more than 30,600 starters. He trained 26 Eclipse Award winners, including three that were named Horse of the Year. By coincidence, on the same day, another legendary trainer died on the other side of the Atlantic, Englishman Barry Hills, aged 88. The Lambourn-based trainer chalked up more than 3,200 wins during a career lasting over 40 years, including majors both at home and overseas. Hills won 10 British and Irish classics, including the 2,000 Guineas with Tap On Wood in 1979 and the 1,000 Guineas with Ghanaati in 2009, but probably achieved his career highlight in France with Rheingold in the 1973 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. His son Charlie took over his Faringdon Place stables when he retired in 2011 - he overcame serious illnesses and throat cancer to carry on training - but he temporarily returned when his other son John - ex-Kranji trainer James Peters' former boss - died in 2014. His two twin sons Michael and Richard were both successful jockeys, but do not train. AFP
NBC Sports
30-06-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Remembering D. Wayne Lukas, who could always make me believe
Steve Kornacki catches up with American Promise trainer D. Wayne Lukas ahead of the Kentucky Derby. The two discuss Lukas' love for competition, what drives him at 89 years old and the respect he commands in the sport. D. Wayne Lukas's reign over the horse racing world reached its zenith just as I became a fan. This was the mid-'90s, when he was his sport's answer to Pat Riley: the stylish suits, the shades, the swagger, the success. The tear he was on back then may never be matched. Lukas won the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes in 1994, all three Triple Crown races in '95 (with two different horses), and both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont again in '96. Each spring, I'd turn on the television and watch as he'd head to the winner's circle, hoist his latest trophy and vow that the next year he'd have an even stronger hand. He seemed invincible. He had my awe. And I thought this was just the way it was. That D. Wayne's dominance was something I could simply count on. I was only a teenager, yet to confront the unsentimental realities of life. But he was the king, and kings are made to be dethroned. In no time at all, it seemed, he was being shoved aside for the next big thing. That was Bob Baffert. He had suits and shades and swagger too, and in 1997 he won his very first Triple Crown race when Silver Charm finished first in the Derby. He took the Preakness too, then fell short in the Belmont. Now Lukas had a rival. And in '98, Baffert did even better, with Real Quiet missing out on the Triple Crown by a matter of inches on a photo finish. Lukas was barely an afterthought in any of this. A narrative was taking hold: Baffert was the future. Lukas was yesterday's news. All of this set the stage for the magical May that transformed me from a mere admirer into a D. Wayne devotee. Baffert brought a trio of horses to Churchill for the 1999 Derby. A three-peat was on the table. He would have the betting favorite. The spotlight was his. Lukas did have two runners in. One was Cat Thief, who'd at least run well in a few prep races. The other was a hopeless no-shot named Charismatic, who'd only months earlier been running in claiming races. Lukas talked him up anyway; Charismatic had actually set a record time in the stakes race that qualified hm for the Derby. But unfulfilled hype was getting to be a bigger part of Lukas's reputation. I was dumb enough to listen, though. More importantly, I was nostalgic enough to believe that the man who'd owned the grandest stage a few years earlier still had it in him. This somehow felt bigger than a horse race, more like a matter of principle. This wasn't about handicapping. It was about not giving in to a world that was telling me it was time to give up on D. Wayne. Charismatic went off at 31-1. He sat off the pace for most of the race, then made his move turning for home. At the eighth pole, he pushed ahead of Cat Thief. 'Now Lukas is running one-two!' ABC's Dave Johnson exclaimed. And when he held off a last-second blitz from Menifee, it sealed one of the biggest upsets in Derby history. D. Wayne was back. Then came Baltimore. Loading into the Preakness starting gate, Charismatic was 8-1. The consensus was universal: His Derby win had been a fluke. He was about to be exposed for what he really was. And it sure looked that way as Charismatic made his way up the backstretch in 10th place. But the pace was hot. The leaders started to tire. Charismatic rolled into the far turn, circled the field and never looked back. On ABC's broadcast, Lukas pumped his fist and strode to winner's circle. Only weeks earlier, there'd been talk of a changing of the guard in the sport. Now he'd be heading to the Belmont with a shot at the Triple Crown. And he'd be doing it with this horse? It all seemed so unlikely, in a way that made everything seem possible. READ MORE: Legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas: Audacious, obsessed, unparalleled For Lukas, it turned out, the Triple Crown wasn't to be, that year or ever. The Belmont was nearly catastrophic. In the final strides, Charismatic was pulled up shortly after the wire. There were bone fractures. But Charismatic was saved (and went on to a long career as a stallion). And in the drama of that Triple Crown season, I had found someone I'd pull for with all my heart for years to come. Because the world only kept moving forward. And that meant it only kept trying to push Lukas into the past. The deep-pocketed owners who'd bankrolled his operation left the scene. Baffert's star grew brighter. Others like him emerged, some from Lukas's own barn. Age itself became an obstacle. Lukas never did return to that peak he'd reached when I first started following him. As he reached his 70s and 80s, he accepted some of these limitations but never stopped believing that he could compete at the sport's top level. And amazingly, he managed to do just that more than once – always, it seemed, just as he was being written off yet again. This is what made being his fan such a joy. Just over a year ago, I went to Baltimore to be part of NBC's coverage of the 2024 Preakness. All the focus was on Mystik Dan, who'd just won the Kentucky Derby. There was a Baffert horse too, coming in from California. And then there was old D. Wayne, all of 88 years old, sending out two of his own. On the air, I picked one of them, Just Steel. As I watched the race, I focused on him and started to give up somewhere in the far turn. Then I noticed who was leading. It was the same horse who'd been leading from the start. It was Lukas's other horse. Seize the Grey. And I knew instantly: It's now or never. If D. Wayne was ever going to turn back the clock one more time, this was it. For the next 30 seconds, I shouted with everything I had. 'Hold on, Seize the Grey! Hold on!! Hold on!!' He did, and it was the happiest sports moment I've ever experienced.
