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Japan Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Japan Times
Hall of Fame trainer and horse racing legend D. Wayne Lukas dies at 89
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who saddled four Kentucky Derby winners among his 15 winners in U.S. Triple Crown races, has died at the age of 89, his family said Sunday. In a statement released through Churchill Downs, the family said Lukas died at home on Saturday night, a week after an infection 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 program," the family said. Lukas was one of the most accomplished trainers in U.S. 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 last year 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 humor, 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," the Breeders' Cup said in its statement. National Thoroughbred Racing Association President Tom Rooney said it was "hard to imagine" racing without Lukas. "His horsemanship reshaped the sport," Rooney said. "If there's a Mount Rushmore of trainers, D. Wayne Lukas is on it." Churchill Downs confirmed last week that the horses in Lukas' care had been transferred to veteran assistant Sebastian "Bas" Nicholl. In a career spanning six decades, Lukas amassed 4,967 documented thoroughbred wins. He trained 26 Eclipse Award winners, including three that were named Horse of the Year.
CBS News
3 days ago
- Sport
- CBS News
D. Wayne Lukas, a 7-time Preakness winner, honored by Maryland horse racing community
Not many horse trainers had the success at Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course as Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, who died on Saturday, June 28, in Louisville, Kentucky. He was 89 years old. Lukas won the Preakness Stakes seven times, behind only rival trainer Bob Baffert, who won the Triple Crown's second leg eight times. The Preakness Stakes was Lukas's most accomplished race of the Triple Crown. He had won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes four times each. Lukas has saddled 48 horses in the Preakness since his debut at the track in 1980. On June 22, Lukas's family said he had been hospitalized and would not return to training. Maryland racing community reacts The Maryland Jockey Club called Lukas a "legendary trainer" and a "true titan of Thoroughbred racing." "We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, & the entire racing community," The Maryland Jockey Club said on social media on Sunday. "His legacy will forever be part of Maryland Racing and the Preakness Stakes." Pimlico Race Course added that Lukas "will be deeply missed." "It was an honor to witness the legacy of D. Wayne Lukas," Pimlico Race Course said in a statement. "We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the entire racing community." The Preakness Stakes social media also expressed its sympathy. "A legend," the Preakness Stakes social media said. "Our hearts our heavy. Our thoughts and well wishes are with D. Wayne Lukas and his family during this time." D. Wayne Lukas's final race at Pimlico Race Course Lukas was in Baltimore for his final Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 17, training American Promise, which had 15-1 morning line odds to win the race. American Promise, jockeyed by Nik Juarez, finished eighth out of nine horses. "The whole secret of this game, I think, is being able to read the horse: Read what he needs, what he doesn't need, what he can't do, what he can do," Lukas said at the Pimlico Race Course in May. "That's the whole key. Everybody's got the blacksmith, everybody's got to the same bed available, the feed man. We all can hire a good jockey. We all can hire a pretty good exercise rider if we've got the means, so what the hell is the difference? The horse is the difference and what we do with him in reading him." 2024 Preakness Stakes stunner A Lukas-trained horse won the Preakness Stakes at Historic Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore in 1980, 1985, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2013, and 2024. In 2024, Seize The Grey, a gray colt, dashed Mystik Dan's Triple Crown aspirations. Seize The Grey started with 4-1 odds and ended up taking out the favorite. That victory moved Lukas within one of the record at Pimlico, inching him closer to his good friend Bob Baffert. "I'm only one behind him — I warned him already," Lukas said. "It never gets old at this level, and I love the competition. I love to get in here with the rest of them." Lukas's memorable Preakness Stakes races Lukas's first victory at Preakness was with Codex in 1980, beating Kentucky Derby winner Genuine Risk. According to a Sports Illustrated article, Genuine Risk's owners challenged Codex's victory, claiming that jockey Angel Cordero Jr. deliberately interfered. The Maryland Racing Commission ruled that contact was incidental, allowing the victory to stand. Tank's Prospect (1985), Tabasco Cat (1994), Timber Country (1995), Charismatic (1999), and Oxbox (2013) were the other Lukas-trained horses to win the Preakness Stakes.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hall of Fame trainer Lukas, four-time Kentucky Derby winner, dies at 89
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas heads off the track after a morning workout prior to the 2024 Belmont Stakes (AL BELLO) 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 he age of 89, his family said Sunday. In a statement released through Churchill Downs, the family said Lukas died at home on Saturday night, a week after an infection had sent him to hospital and he decided not to pursue aggressive treatment. Advertisement "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 program," 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 last year 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. Advertisement "We will miss his humor, 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's 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. Advertisement "His horsemanship reshaped the sport," Rooney said. "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's care had been transferred to veteran assistant Sebastian "Bas" Nicholl. In a career spanning six decades, Lukas amassed 4,967 documented Thoroughbred wins. He trained 26 Eclipse Award winners, including three that were named Horse of the Year. bb/js
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hall of Fame trainer Lukas, four-time Kentucky Derby winner, dies at 89
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas heads off the track after a morning workout prior to the 2024 Belmont Stakes (AL BELLO) 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 he age of 89, his family said Sunday. In a statement released through Churchill Downs, the family said Lukas died at home on Saturday night, a week after an infection had sent him to hospital and he decided not to pursue aggressive treatment. Advertisement "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 program," 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 last year 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. Advertisement "We will miss his humor, 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's 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. Advertisement "His horsemanship reshaped the sport," Rooney said. "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's care had been transferred to veteran assistant Sebastian "Bas" Nicholl. In a career spanning six decades, Lukas amassed 4,967 documented Thoroughbred wins. He trained 26 Eclipse Award winners, including three that were named Horse of the Year. bb/js
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hall of Fame horse trainer D. Wayne Lukas dies at 89
Hall of Fame horse trainer D. Wayne Lukas died at his home in Louisville, Kentucky, Saturday night. He was 89. Lukas, who won 15 Triple Crown races — including the Kentucky Derby four times since 1988 — was hospitalized last week while he fought a severe MRSA blood infection that damaged his heart and digestive system, in addition to worsening pre-existing chronic conditions, according to The Associated Press. Advertisement He declined an aggressive treatment plan and returned home earlier this week to spend his final days with family, per a Churchill Downs news release Sunday. "A four-time winner of the Kentucky Derby, 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, CEO of Churchill Downs Incorporated, said in the release. "We will miss his humor, his wisdom and his unmatched capacity to thrill the fans with the performances of his horses on our sport's biggest days." This breaking news story will be updated.
