Tag Archive for: D Wayne Lukas

Baffert hails ‘true visionary’ Lukas

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Bob Baffert has paid a heartfelt tribute to D. Wayne Lukas, the legendary American trainer who died at the age of 89 on Saturday.

Baffert credits Lukas with being a true inspirational figure as he was starting out in his own career both in Quarter Horse racing and later when he moved into training thoroughbreds.

In a post on X, Baffert said: “I first saw D. Wayne Lukas as a teenager at a small County Fair racetrack close to my hometown in Nogales, Arizona. He rolled into town with his gleaming chrome trailer, big, beautifully turned out horses, and the most expensive-looking Stetson hat that I had ever seen.

“He won race after race and made such a huge impression on me that I fell in love with Quarter horse racing right there.

“Years later, when I transitioned into thoroughbreds, Wayne was the competition, and all I wanted was to beat him in the big races. It didn’t take me long to realise how difficult that would be.

“Wayne was a game changer, transforming horse racing for the better. He made it so the horse’s bloodlines were more important than the owner’s. He created a system of flying his horses coast to coast, establishing a presence at every major racetrack in America. And Wayne didn’t just show up. He dominated. He won so much he became known as ‘D. Wayne off the plane’. He developed the blueprint the rest of us still follow. He was a true visionary.

“The horses were everything to Wayne. They were his life. 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.

“As I grew older and wiser, Wayne remained the competition, but he also became a mentor and one of my best friends. When he beat me, I knew I was beaten by the best. When I beat him, I knew I had done something right.

“Wayne had a special aura about him. 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. One of the things that made Wayne so special was the steadfast love and support of his wife, Laurie, an excellent horsewoman in her own right, and his grandchildren.

“Wayne impacted the lives of so many people in racing and raised the bar for all of us. He was the epitome of excellence, and I’ll miss him every day for the rest of my life.

“I hope somewhere along the way, I made him proud.”

Jerry Bailey enjoyed many big-race victories for Lukas and posted on X: “With our deepest sympathies, Suzee and I extend our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the entire Lukas family on the passing of Thoroughbred Racing legend D. Wayne Lukas. Wayne played an instrumental role in many of the highlights of my riding career. He will truly be missed.”

Hall of Fame trainer Lukas dies aged 89

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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 www.churchilldowns.com 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.

Shannon Arvin, president and chief executive of Keeneland, hailed Lukas’ impact at the Kentucky venue during his illustrious career.

“D. Wayne Lukas was a legend – a masterful trainer with passion, attention to detail and a tireless pursuit of success, as well as a mentor whose barn produced a number of racing’s most successful trainers,” Arvin said.

“His impact at Keeneland, where he was a presence for nearly 50 years, is not likely to be seen again.

“Since buying his first horse here in 1977, he influenced yearling sales through his emphasis on conformation and body type while affecting the way horses were bred and prepped to produce yearlings that would appeal to him.

“After Wayne won his first Keeneland race in 1980, he set numerous records during our Spring and Fall Meets and across the country with a powerful stable of runners, many of which he and his clients had purchased here.

“On behalf of Keeneland, we extend our deepest condolences to Wayne’s wife, Laurie, and his entire family.”

American great D. Wayne Lukas retires amid health battle

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Legendary American trainer D. Wayne Lukas has been forced to retire due to ill health.

Lukas, 89, has reportedly turned down an aggressive treatment plan having been suffering from an infection and is due to leave hospital and return home to his family.

His long-serving assistant, Englishman Sebastian “Bas” Nicholl will take over the running of his stable.

“Wayne is one of the greatest competitors and most important figures in Thoroughbred racing history,” said Mike Anderson, president of Churchill Downs said on www.churchilldowns.com.

“He transcended the sport of horse racing and took the industry to new levels. The lasting impact of his character and wisdom – from his acute horsemanship to his unmatched attention to detail – will be truly missed. The enormity of this news is immense, and our prayers are with his family and friends around the world during this difficult time.”

Lukas, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999, has won the Kentucky Derby four times among his 15 Triple Crown race wins and has 20 victories at the Breeders’ Cup, a record matched only by Aidan O’Brien.

Lukas trained his last winner on June 12 at Churchill Downs when Tour Player was successful. His first thoroughbred success came in October 1977.

Nicholl, a former tank commander in the British Army, said: “Wayne built a legacy that will never be matched. Every decision I make, every horse I saddle, I’ll hear his voice in the back of my mind. This isn’t about filling his shoes – no one can – it’s about honouring everything that he’s built.”

Some of Lukas’ best horses included Thunder Gulch, owned by Michael Tabor, Winning Colors and Tabasco Cat.