Latest news with #NationalMuseumofRacingandHallofFame
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
National Museum Of Racing And Hall Of Fame And Amplify Horse Racing Announce Summer Camp
National Museum Of Racing And Hall Of Fame And Amplify Horse Racing Announce Summer Camp originally appeared on Paulick Report. The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and Amplify Horse Racing are partnering to launch The Winner's Circle Summer Camp, an immersive four-day experience introducing high school students to the thrilling world of thoroughbred racing. Taking place Tuesday, July 22 through Friday, July 25, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., The Winner's Circle Summer Camp will give participants access to some of the sport's most iconic locations and career opportunities. The four-day camp combines classroom-style learning at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame with exclusive behind-the-scenes tours at Saratoga Race Course and local industry partners. Advertisement From learning how a racetrack operates and exploring veterinary science to visiting the backstretch and building their own model racetrack, students will discover how their personal skills and interests can connect to a wide variety of career paths in the thoroughbred industry. 'We're thrilled to be collaborating with the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame as a regional partner to offer this wonderful program,' said Annise Montplaisir, executive director of Amplify Horse Racing. 'This camp will be an incredible way for youth to learn about horse racing and experience the magic of Saratoga, including those who may not come from a horse background and want to gain hands-on experience.' The camp is open to rising 9th through 12th graders. Enrollment is limited to 30 students, with a registration fee of $50. Museum members receive a discounted rate of $40. To learn more or register, visit: The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and Amplify extend sincere thanks to Corbin Blumberg, the New York Racing Association (NYRA), the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA), and the New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) for their generous support in helping make this program possible. About the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame The mission of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame is to preserve and promote the history of thoroughbred racing in America and honor the sport's most accomplished participants in the Official National Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame. About Amplify Horse Racing Amplify Horse Racing amplifies thoroughbred industry education, mentorship, and career opportunities with horse programs for youth and young adults. We create pathways to involvement for newcomers, highlight existing initiatives, and create new resources to lead the thoroughbred industry into the future. Horse racing might be called 'the sport of kings,' but it's a sport for everyone! This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
San Francisco Chronicle
30-06-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
D. Wayne Lukas revolutionized horse racing: An Appreciation
For over 50 years, D. Wayne Lukas set the standard in horse racing. And the sport followed suit. Trainers wanted to be like Wayne. Owners wanted him handling their horses. He died Saturday at his home in Louisville, Kentucky, his family announced through Churchill Downs on Sunday. He was 89. Lukas' death, mourned across the racing industry, came just days after his family said he would no longer train because of health issues. He was hospitalized with a severe MRSA infection and declined an aggressive treatment plan, instead choosing to return home. His stable of horses was transferred to his longtime assistant Sebastian Nicholl. Lukas' 4,953rd and final thoroughbred winner was Tour Player at Churchill Downs on June 12. His final Kentucky Derby runner finished 16th in May. There are generations who've never known horse racing without Lukas in it. Much of what American trainers do today is based on his playbook: identifying and buying the best horses at the sales, shipping them to race at tracks nationwide, aiming to compete yearly in what he called 'the big arena' -- the Triple Crown series and the Breeders' Cup world championships. 'The horses were everything to Wayne. They were his life,' one-time rival trainer and longtime friend Bob Baffert posted on X. 'From the way he worked them, how he cared for them, and how he maintained his shed row as meticulously as he did his horses. No detail was too small. Many of us got our graduate degrees in training by studying how Wayne did it. Behind his famous shades, he was a tremendous horseman, probably the greatest who ever lived.' Born and raised on a small farm in Antigo, Wisconsin, Lukas grew up around horses. He first coached high school basketball in his home state, later serving as an assistant at the University of Wisconsin. In 1968, Lukas moved to California and began training quarter horses. He found success, overseeing 24 world champions in 10 years. He then switched to thoroughbreds, saddling his first winner at Santa Anita in 1977. He became the first trainer to earn over $100 million in purse money, and 14 times he led the nation in money won. 'A lot of nice records fell and a lot of good things happened,' he said in 2022. Lukas had an edge to him in his heyday, cutting a suave figure at the track in his expensive suits, his eyes hidden behind aviator sunglasses. He ran his operation like a corporate CEO, overseeing some 400 horses around the country. There was no time to rest on his laurels. He was never content to appreciate what he had achieved. Instead, he was always looking for the next great horse, the next big stakes win. — 20 Breeders' Cup victories — three Horse of the Year champions — four Eclipse Awards as the nation's outstanding trainer — first trainer to be inducted in both the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame Nearly until his final days, Lukas would be aboard his stable pony, Bucky, in the predawn darkness, leading his horses to the track and supervising their workouts. Out of the saddle, he was easily spotted in his white Stetson, using a cane in one of his few concessions to age. Some years ago, though, the glory days seemed lost and never to return. A handful of Lukas' deep-pocketed owners died within a short time of each other, leaving his stock of horseflesh depleted. He wasn't a serious factor in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. In 2020, he recovered from a case of COVID-19. Still, he kept getting up at 3:30 a.m., spending winters in Arkansas and springs in Kentucky. He returned to the 2-year-old sales, scouting promising horses that he could develop his way. He also trained for MyRacehorse, a syndicate selling shares in horses for as little as $100. Lukas marveled at the logjam of happy owners in the winner's circle. The tide soon turned. In 2022, Lukas earned his record-tying fifth victory in the Kentucky Oaks and first since 1990. He became the oldest trainer to win a Triple Crown race when Seize the Grey won the 2024 Preakness and followed up with a victory in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby. On that May afternoon in Baltimore, there was an impromptu surge of adulation for Lukas from his rivals. In a business rife with jealousy, the losers stepped up to congratulate the wily veteran. Lukas lived to a ripe old age, long enough to experience the reverence he had earned and so richly deserved. 'No one was bigger to this Game Except for Wayne,' retired Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens wrote on X. Over his last 25 years, Lukas had segued into racing's elder stateman, unafraid to express his opinions about an industry struggling to stay afloat within its ranks and with the public. 'With age and experience you inherit a certain amount of responsibility to maybe carry the game a little further,' he told The Associated Press in 2015. Lukas had been there, done that and knew the feeling of winning. He wanted to share it with his newest owners as well as total strangers. He would often pull youngsters out of the stands and usher them to the winner's circle to pose for the photo. The man nicknamed 'Coach' took fatherly pride in his string of former assistants who went on to successful careers of their own, most notably Todd Pletcher, a two-time Kentucky Derby winner. 'Wayne had a special aura about him,' Baffert posted on X. 'He had a knack for making others feel seen and valued. He was uniquely charming and an eternal optimist. In one of my last conversations with him, we talked about the importance of looking at the glass half full and continuing to compete in what he called the big arena. To his final days, he was a relentless competitor. He set out with ambitious goals and achieved them all.'
Fox Sports
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
D. Wayne Lukas revolutionized horse racing: An Appreciation
Associated Press For over 50 years, D. Wayne Lukas set the standard in horse racing. And the sport followed suit. Trainers wanted to be like Wayne. Owners wanted him handling their horses. He died Saturday at his home in Louisville, Kentucky, his family announced through Churchill Downs on Sunday. He was 89. Lukas' death, mourned across the racing industry, came just days after his family said he would no longer train because of health issues. He was hospitalized with a severe MRSA infection and declined an aggressive treatment plan, instead choosing to return home. His stable of horses was transferred to his longtime assistant Sebastian Nicholl. Lukas' 4,953rd and final thoroughbred winner was Tour Player at Churchill Downs on June 12. His final Kentucky Derby runner finished 16th in May. There are generations who've never known horse racing without Lukas in it. Much of what American trainers do today is based on his playbook: identifying and buying the best horses at the sales, shipping them to race at tracks nationwide, aiming to compete yearly in what he called 'the big arena' -- the Triple Crown series and the Breeders' Cup world championships. 'The horses were everything to Wayne. They were his life,' one-time rival trainer and longtime friend Bob Baffert posted on X. 'From the way he worked them, how he cared for them, and how he maintained his shed row as meticulously as he did his horses. No detail was too small. Many of us got our graduate degrees in training by studying how Wayne did it. Behind his famous shades, he was a tremendous horseman, probably the greatest who ever lived.' Born and raised on a small farm in Antigo, Wisconsin, Lukas grew up around horses. He first coached high school basketball in his home state, later serving as an assistant at the University of Wisconsin. In 1968, Lukas moved to California and began training quarter horses. He found success, overseeing 24 world champions in 10 years. He then switched to thoroughbreds, saddling his first winner at Santa Anita in 1977. He became the first trainer to earn over $100 million in purse money, and 14 times he led the nation in money won. 'A lot of nice records fell and a lot of good things happened,' he said in 2022. Lukas had an edge to him in his heyday, cutting a suave figure at the track in his expensive suits, his eyes hidden behind aviator sunglasses. He ran his operation like a corporate CEO, overseeing some 400 horses around the country. There was no time to rest on his laurels. He was never content to appreciate what he had achieved. Instead, he was always looking for the next great horse, the next big stakes win. His statistics are overwhelming: — 15 Triple Crown race victories, including six in a row — 20 Breeders' Cup victories — three Horse of the Year champions — four Eclipse Awards as the nation's outstanding trainer — first trainer to be inducted in both the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame Nearly until his final days, Lukas would be aboard his stable pony, Bucky, in the predawn darkness, leading his horses to the track and supervising their workouts. Out of the saddle, he was easily spotted in his white Stetson, using a cane in one of his few concessions to age. Some years ago, though, the glory days seemed lost and never to return. A handful of Lukas' deep-pocketed owners died within a short time of each other, leaving his stock of horseflesh depleted. He wasn't a serious factor in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. In 2020, he recovered from a case of COVID-19. Still, he kept getting up at 3:30 a.m., spending winters in Arkansas and springs in Kentucky. He returned to the 2-year-old sales, scouting promising horses that he could develop his way. He also trained for MyRacehorse, a syndicate selling shares in horses for as little as $100. Lukas marveled at the logjam of happy owners in the winner's circle. The tide soon turned. In 2022, Lukas earned his record-tying fifth victory in the Kentucky Oaks and first since 1990. He became the oldest trainer to win a Triple Crown race when Seize the Grey won the 2024 Preakness and followed up with a victory in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby. On that May afternoon in Baltimore, there was an impromptu surge of adulation for Lukas from his rivals. In a business rife with jealousy, the losers stepped up to congratulate the wily veteran. Lukas lived to a ripe old age, long enough to experience the reverence he had earned and so richly deserved. 'No one was bigger to this Game Except for Wayne,' retired Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens wrote on X. Over his last 25 years, Lukas had segued into racing's elder stateman, unafraid to express his opinions about an industry struggling to stay afloat within its ranks and with the public. 'With age and experience you inherit a certain amount of responsibility to maybe carry the game a little further,' he told The Associated Press in 2015. Lukas had been there, done that and knew the feeling of winning. He wanted to share it with his newest owners as well as total strangers. He would often pull youngsters out of the stands and usher them to the winner's circle to pose for the photo. The man nicknamed 'Coach' took fatherly pride in his string of former assistants who went on to successful careers of their own, most notably Todd Pletcher, a two-time Kentucky Derby winner. 'Wayne had a special aura about him,' Baffert posted on X. 'He had a knack for making others feel seen and valued. He was uniquely charming and an eternal optimist. In one of my last conversations with him, we talked about the importance of looking at the glass half full and continuing to compete in what he called the big arena. To his final days, he was a relentless competitor. He set out with ambitious goals and achieved them all.' ___ AP horse racing: in this topic
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
D. Wayne Lukas revolutionized horse racing: An Appreciation
For over 50 years, D. Wayne Lukas set the standard in horse racing. And the sport followed suit. Trainers wanted to be like Wayne. Owners wanted him handling their horses. He died Saturday at his home in Louisville, Kentucky, his family announced through Churchill Downs on Sunday. He was 89. Advertisement Lukas' death, mourned across the racing industry, came just days after his family said he would no longer train because of health issues. He was hospitalized with a severe MRSA infection and declined an aggressive treatment plan, instead choosing to return home. His stable of horses was transferred to his longtime assistant Sebastian Nicholl. Lukas' 4,953rd and final thoroughbred winner was Tour Player at Churchill Downs on June 12. His final Kentucky Derby runner finished 16th in May. There are generations who've never known horse racing without Lukas in it. Much of what American trainers do today is based on his playbook: identifying and buying the best horses at the sales, shipping them to race at tracks nationwide, aiming to compete yearly in what he called 'the big arena' -- the Triple Crown series and the Breeders' Cup world championships. Advertisement 'The horses were everything to Wayne. They were his life,' one-time rival trainer and longtime friend Bob Baffert posted on X. 'From the way he worked them, how he cared for them, and how he maintained his shed row as meticulously as he did his horses. No detail was too small. Many of us got our graduate degrees in training by studying how Wayne did it. Behind his famous shades, he was a tremendous horseman, probably the greatest who ever lived.' Born and raised on a small farm in Antigo, Wisconsin, Lukas grew up around horses. He first coached high school basketball in his home state, later serving as an assistant at the University of Wisconsin. In 1968, Lukas moved to California and began training quarter horses. He found success, overseeing 24 world champions in 10 years. He then switched to thoroughbreds, saddling his first winner at Santa Anita in 1977. He became the first trainer to earn over $100 million in purse money, and 14 times he led the nation in money won. 'A lot of nice records fell and a lot of good things happened,' he said in 2022. Advertisement Lukas had an edge to him in his heyday, cutting a suave figure at the track in his expensive suits, his eyes hidden behind aviator sunglasses. He ran his operation like a corporate CEO, overseeing some 400 horses around the country. There was no time to rest on his laurels. He was never content to appreciate what he had achieved. Instead, he was always looking for the next great horse, the next big stakes win. His statistics are overwhelming: — 15 Triple Crown race victories, including six in a row — 20 Breeders' Cup victories — three Horse of the Year champions — four Eclipse Awards as the nation's outstanding trainer Advertisement — first trainer to be inducted in both the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame Nearly until his final days, Lukas would be aboard his stable pony, Bucky, in the predawn darkness, leading his horses to the track and supervising their workouts. Out of the saddle, he was easily spotted in his white Stetson, using a cane in one of his few concessions to age. Some years ago, though, the glory days seemed lost and never to return. A handful of Lukas' deep-pocketed owners died within a short time of each other, leaving his stock of horseflesh depleted. He wasn't a serious factor in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. Advertisement In 2020, he recovered from a case of COVID-19. Still, he kept getting up at 3:30 a.m., spending winters in Arkansas and springs in Kentucky. He returned to the 2-year-old sales, scouting promising horses that he could develop his way. He also trained for MyRacehorse, a syndicate selling shares in horses for as little as $100. Lukas marveled at the logjam of happy owners in the winner's circle. The tide soon turned. In 2022, Lukas earned his record-tying fifth victory in the Kentucky Oaks and first since 1990. He became the oldest trainer to win a Triple Crown race when Seize the Grey won the 2024 Preakness and followed up with a victory in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby. Advertisement On that May afternoon in Baltimore, there was an impromptu surge of adulation for Lukas from his rivals. In a business rife with jealousy, the losers stepped up to congratulate the wily veteran. Lukas lived to a ripe old age, long enough to experience the reverence he had earned and so richly deserved. 'No one was bigger to this Game Except for Wayne,' retired Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens wrote on X. Over his last 25 years, Lukas had segued into racing's elder stateman, unafraid to express his opinions about an industry struggling to stay afloat within its ranks and with the public. 'With age and experience you inherit a certain amount of responsibility to maybe carry the game a little further,' he told The Associated Press in 2015. Advertisement Lukas had been there, done that and knew the feeling of winning. He wanted to share it with his newest owners as well as total strangers. He would often pull youngsters out of the stands and usher them to the winner's circle to pose for the photo. The man nicknamed 'Coach' took fatherly pride in his string of former assistants who went on to successful careers of their own, most notably Todd Pletcher, a two-time Kentucky Derby winner. 'Wayne had a special aura about him,' Baffert posted on X. 'He had a knack for making others feel seen and valued. He was uniquely charming and an eternal optimist. In one of my last conversations with him, we talked about the importance of looking at the glass half full and continuing to compete in what he called the big arena. To his final days, he was a relentless competitor. He set out with ambitious goals and achieved them all.' ___ AP horse racing: Beth Harris, The Associated Press
Winnipeg Free Press
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
D. Wayne Lukas revolutionized horse racing: An Appreciation
For over 50 years, D. Wayne Lukas set the standard in horse racing. And the sport followed suit. Trainers wanted to be like Wayne. Owners wanted him handling their horses. He died Saturday at his home in Louisville, Kentucky, his family announced through Churchill Downs on Sunday. He was 89. Lukas' death, mourned across the racing industry, came just days after his family said he would no longer train because of health issues. He was hospitalized with a severe MRSA infection and declined an aggressive treatment plan, instead choosing to return home. His stable of horses was transferred to his longtime assistant Sebastian Nicholl. Lukas' 4,953rd and final thoroughbred winner was Tour Player at Churchill Downs on June 12. His final Kentucky Derby runner finished 16th in May. There are generations who've never known horse racing without Lukas in it. Much of what American trainers do today is based on his playbook: identifying and buying the best horses at the sales, shipping them to race at tracks nationwide, aiming to compete yearly in what he called 'the big arena' — the Triple Crown series and the Breeders' Cup world championships. 'The horses were everything to Wayne. They were his life,' one-time rival trainer and longtime friend Bob Baffert posted on X. 'From the way he worked them, how he cared for them, and how he maintained his shed row as meticulously as he did his horses. No detail was too small. Many of us got our graduate degrees in training by studying how Wayne did it. Behind his famous shades, he was a tremendous horseman, probably the greatest who ever lived.' Born and raised on a small farm in Antigo, Wisconsin, Lukas grew up around horses. He first coached high school basketball in his home state, later serving as an assistant at the University of Wisconsin. In 1968, Lukas moved to California and began training quarter horses. He found success, overseeing 24 world champions in 10 years. He then switched to thoroughbreds, saddling his first winner at Santa Anita in 1977. He became the first trainer to earn over $100 million in purse money, and 14 times he led the nation in money won. 'A lot of nice records fell and a lot of good things happened,' he said in 2022. Lukas had an edge to him in his heyday, cutting a suave figure at the track in his expensive suits, his eyes hidden behind aviator sunglasses. He ran his operation like a corporate CEO, overseeing some 400 horses around the country. There was no time to rest on his laurels. He was never content to appreciate what he had achieved. Instead, he was always looking for the next great horse, the next big stakes win. His statistics are overwhelming: — 15 Triple Crown race victories, including six in a row — 20 Breeders' Cup victories — three Horse of the Year champions — four Eclipse Awards as the nation's outstanding trainer — first trainer to be inducted in both the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame Nearly until his final days, Lukas would be aboard his stable pony, Bucky, in the predawn darkness, leading his horses to the track and supervising their workouts. Out of the saddle, he was easily spotted in his white Stetson, using a cane in one of his few concessions to age. Some years ago, though, the glory days seemed lost and never to return. A handful of Lukas' deep-pocketed owners died within a short time of each other, leaving his stock of horseflesh depleted. He wasn't a serious factor in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. In 2020, he recovered from a case of COVID-19. Still, he kept getting up at 3:30 a.m., spending winters in Arkansas and springs in Kentucky. He returned to the 2-year-old sales, scouting promising horses that he could develop his way. He also trained for MyRacehorse, a syndicate selling shares in horses for as little as $100. Lukas marveled at the logjam of happy owners in the winner's circle. The tide soon turned. In 2022, Lukas earned his record-tying fifth victory in the Kentucky Oaks and first since 1990. He became the oldest trainer to win a Triple Crown race when Seize the Grey won the 2024 Preakness and followed up with a victory in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby. On that May afternoon in Baltimore, there was an impromptu surge of adulation for Lukas from his rivals. In a business rife with jealousy, the losers stepped up to congratulate the wily veteran. Lukas lived to a ripe old age, long enough to experience the reverence he had earned and so richly deserved. 'No one was bigger to this Game Except for Wayne,' retired Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens wrote on X. Over his last 25 years, Lukas had segued into racing's elder stateman, unafraid to express his opinions about an industry struggling to stay afloat within its ranks and with the public. 'With age and experience you inherit a certain amount of responsibility to maybe carry the game a little further,' he told The Associated Press in 2015. Lukas had been there, done that and knew the feeling of winning. He wanted to share it with his newest owners as well as total strangers. He would often pull youngsters out of the stands and usher them to the winner's circle to pose for the photo. The man nicknamed 'Coach' took fatherly pride in his string of former assistants who went on to successful careers of their own, most notably Todd Pletcher, a two-time Kentucky Derby winner. 'Wayne had a special aura about him,' Baffert posted on X. 'He had a knack for making others feel seen and valued. He was uniquely charming and an eternal optimist. In one of my last conversations with him, we talked about the importance of looking at the glass half full and continuing to compete in what he called the big arena. To his final days, he was a relentless competitor. He set out with ambitious goals and achieved them all.' ___ AP horse racing:
