Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, a towering figure in horse racing history, has been hospitalized in Louisville, Kentucky. Lukas, 89, has been battling a severe infection that has worsened his condition. He has opted against aggressive treatment and will return home to spend his remaining time with his wife, Laurie, and his family. The family has requested privacy during this difficult period. In a pre-arranged succession plan by Lukas Enterprises Inc., all horses previously under Lukas’s care have been transferred to his veteran assistant, Sebastian “Bas” Nicholl. Lukas’s career spanned over six decades, marked by numerous prestigious victories and a profound impact on the sport.
A Legacy in Thoroughbred Racing
D. Wayne Lukas, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999, is renowned for his unparalleled success. He is a four-time winner of the Kentucky Derby and a five-time winner of the Longines Kentucky Oaks. His training prowess is further underscored by his 26 Eclipse Award champions, three of whom were named Horse of the Year. Mike Anderson, President of Churchill Downs Racetrack, remarked on Lukas’s immense influence, stating, “Wayne is one of the greatest competitors and most important figures in Thoroughbred racing history. He transcended the sport of horse racing and took the industry to new levels.”
Throughout his distinguished career, Lukas amassed 4,967 documented Thoroughbred wins, earning over $301 million from 30,607 starts. His record includes 1,105 stakes wins, with 637 of those being graded stakes victories. His final recorded win occurred on June 12 at Churchill Downs with the colt Tour Player.
Sebastian Nicholl Steps In
Sebastian “Bas” Nicholl, a native of England, brings a wealth of experience to his new role. He served eight years in the British Army, achieving the rank of captain and commanding a tank in Operation Desert Storm. After leaving the military in 1995, Nicholl transitioned to horse racing, working for prominent Irish steeplechase trainer Edward O’Grady. He came to the United States in 1999, working with trainer Pat Byrne before joining Lukas’s operation in 2002. Nicholl expressed his dedication to continuing Lukas’s legacy, stating, “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 honoring everything that he’s built.”
Impact and Records
Lukas’s horses achieved 15 victories in Triple Crown races, a remarkable feat second only to Bob Baffert’s 17. He also trained a record 20 winners in Breeders’ Cup Championship races. Lukas earned four Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Trainer and led the nation in money-won for 14 years.
His association with Churchill Downs, dating back to 1989, is so significant that the gap near the six-furlong pole is commonly known as “The Lukas Gap.” In 2015, Churchill Downs honored him by renaming the Homecoming Classic to the Lukas Classic. At Churchill Downs alone, Lukas ranks third in career stakes victories with 78, fifth in career earnings, and sixth in total wins.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born Darrell Wayne Lukas on September 2, 1935, in Antigo, Wisconsin, he grew up on a farm. His early exposure to horses included pony racing and developing a keen eye for evaluating and purchasing them. Alongside his friend Clyde Rice, Lukas broke and trained mustangs for resale. He pursued higher education, earning a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin, where he also served as an assistant basketball coach. His nine years as a high school teacher and basketball coach earned him the respected nickname “Coach.”
Lukas began training Quarter Horses in 1968 and transitioned to full-time Thoroughbred training in 1972, quickly establishing himself in California. He was later inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2007, becoming the first person to be honored in both the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse halls of fame.
Transition to Thoroughbred Racing
His first documented Thoroughbred win occurred on October 20, 1977, at Santa Anita. By 1978, he fully dedicated himself to training Thoroughbreds, known for his distinctive stable presentation with white picket fencing and flower beds. Early successes included Effervescing, who provided Lukas with his first graded stakes win in the 1978 American Handicap.
A significant breakthrough came in 1979 when trainer John Nerud entrusted him with Codex. Codex went on to win the 1980 Santa Anita Derby and later the Preakness Stakes. Lukas revolutionized Thoroughbred training in the late 1970s and 1980s with his widespread stable system and the popular phrase “D. Wayne off the plane” associated with his horses flying in for major races. His “training tree” includes many successful trainers, such as Todd Pletcher and Kiaran McLaughlin.
Personal Life and Family
Lukas’s only son, Jeff, tragically suffered severe injuries in a training accident in 1993. Despite initial hopes for recovery, Jeff passed away in 2016 at the age of 58. Lukas was known for his sharp eye, confident demeanor, and dapper style, attracting wealthy owners who invested heavily in yearlings. His notable clients included Eugene Klein, owner of the San Diego Chargers, for whom he trained the 1988 Kentucky Derby winner, Winning Colors.
Unprecedented Achievements
Lukas consistently set records throughout his career. He won 92 stakes races in 1987, a record later broken by Todd Pletcher. He was the first trainer to surpass $100 million and $200 million in career earnings. Perhaps his most remarkable achievement was winning a record six consecutive Triple Crown races between 1994 and 1996, and he remains the only trainer to have swept the Triple Crown classics in a single year with different horses.
He had a particular knack for winning with longshots, famously stating, “You can’t win it if you’re not in it.” Notable longshot victories include Spain in the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at 55-1 and Charismatic in the 1999 Kentucky Derby at 31-1. Lukas also excelled with female horses, often pitting them against males with significant success, including Winning Colors winning the Kentucky Derby in 1988.
Enduring Legacy
Lukas’s influence extends beyond his personal accomplishments. He was recognized with numerous accolades, including induction into the Horse Racing Hall of Fame and the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame. He was a fourteen-time national leader in money-won and a four-time Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Trainer. He was also an eleven-time Churchill Downs champion trainer. In his later career, Lukas often invited a child from the grandstand to join him in the winner’s circle for a celebratory photo, sharing his success with young fans. The Lukas family expressed confidence in Bas Nicholl’s ability to carry on the tradition, stating, “Wayne is proud of his many former assistants who have achieved greatness, and he is confident that Bas will follow in their footsteps, carrying his unwavering support and endorsement.”
Key Accomplishments:
- Kentucky Derby Wins: 4 (Winning Colors, Thunder Gulch, Grindstone, Charismatic)
- Preakness Stakes Wins: 7 (Codex, Tank’s Prospect, Tabasco Cat, Timber Country, Charismatic, Oxbow, Seize the Grey)
- Belmont Stakes Wins: 4 (Tabasco Cat, Thunder Gulch, Editor’s Note, Commendable)
- Record Six Consecutive Triple Crown Races: 1994-1996
- Kentucky Oaks Wins: 5 (Brush With Pride, Lucky Lucky Lucky, Open Mind, Seaside Attraction, Secret Oath)
- Horse of the Year Titles: 3 (Lady’s Secret, Criminal Type, Charismatic)
- Eclipse Award Champions: 26
- Breeders’ Cup Wins: 20 (including a record 5 Juvenile wins and 6 Juvenile Fillies wins)
