Renowned Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, a towering figure in horse racing history, has been hospitalized in Louisville, Kentucky. The news was confirmed by Lukas’ family, who announced that the 89-year-old trainer will not return to active training due to a severe infection. Lukas has opted against aggressive treatment and will return home to spend his remaining time with his family.
In a well-orchestrated transition, all horses previously under Lukas’ esteemed care have been transferred to his veteran assistant, Sebastian “Bas” Nicholl. This succession plan ensures continuity for the stable and its clients.
Lukas, inducted into horse racing’s Hall of Fame in 1999, boasts an unparalleled record, including four Kentucky Derby victories and five wins in the Longines Kentucky Oaks. He trained 26 Eclipse Award champions, three of whom were named Horse of the Year. His influence extended beyond wins, shaping the sport with his sharp horsemanship and meticulous attention to detail. “Wayne is one of the greatest competitors and most important figures in Thoroughbred racing history,” said Mike Anderson, President of Churchill Downs Racetrack. “He transcended the sport of horse racing and took the industry to new levels.”
Over a career spanning six decades, Lukas achieved 4,967 documented Thoroughbred wins, earning over $301 million from 30,607 starts. His impressive tally includes 1,105 stakes wins, with 637 being graded stakes victories. His final recorded win occurred on June 12 at Churchill Downs with the colt Tour Player.
Sebastian Nicholl, a native of England, brings a wealth of experience to his new role. After serving in the British Army, including a stint as a tank commander in Operation Desert Storm, Nicholl transitioned to horse racing. He worked for prominent trainers in Ireland before coming to the United States in 1999. Nicholl joined Lukas’ operation on January 18, 2002, and has been an integral part of the stable ever since. “Wayne built a legacy that will never be matched,” Nicholl stated. “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.”
Lukas’ horses achieved 15 victories in Triple Crown races, second only to Bob Baffert’s 17. He also trained a record 20 winners in Breeders’ Cup Championship races. Lukas earned four Eclipse Awards as the nation’s top trainer and was a 14-time national leader in money-won.
Churchill Downs has a significant connection to Lukas, with his stable based there since 1989. The area near the six-furlong pole is affectionately known as “The Lukas Gap.” In recognition of his contributions, Churchill Downs renamed the former Homecoming Classic to the Lukas Classic in 2015. This Grade II event for older horses now boasts a $500,000 purse. At Churchill Downs, Lukas ranks third in career stakes victories with 78, fifth in career earnings, and sixth in total wins.
Born Darrell Wayne Lukas on September 2, 1935, in Antigo, Wisconsin, he was raised on a farm and developed an early talent for evaluating and buying horses. His early experiences included racing ponies and buying mustangs. Lukas pursued higher education, earning a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin, where he also served as an assistant basketball coach. He spent nine years as a high school teacher and head basketball coach, earning the nickname “Coach” later in his racing career.
In 1968, Lukas began training Quarter Horses before transitioning to Thoroughbreds full-time in 1972. He quickly became a leading Quarter Horse trainer, averaging over $1 million in purse earnings annually. In 2007, he was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame, becoming the first person to be honored in both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse halls of fame. He trained 24 Quarter Horse champions and was a three-time leading trainer in earnings and races won in that discipline.
Lukas’ first documented Thoroughbred win came on October 20, 1977. He is credited with revolutionizing Thoroughbred training in the late 1970s and 1980s by employing skilled assistant trainers and maintaining stables across the country, leading to the popular phrase “D. Wayne off the plane.”
A significant personal tragedy in Lukas’ life was the injury sustained by his son, Jeff, during a training accident in 1993. Jeff Lukas, who later passed away in 2016, suffered severe brain damage after attempting to stop a runaway horse.
Lukas was known for his keen eye, confident demeanor, and sharp dressing style. He attracted wealthy owners who invested millions in yearlings. Eugene Klein, former owner of the San Diego Chargers, was a key client, purchasing the filly Winning Colors, who became Lukas’ first Kentucky Derby winner in 1988.
Throughout his career, Lukas amassed numerous records and accolades. He won a record six consecutive Triple Crown races between 1994 and 1996, and became the first trainer to sweep the Triple Crown classics in the same year with different horses in 1995. He trained champions like Lady’s Secret, Criminal Type, and Charismatic, all named Horse of the Year.
His impact is evident in the success of his former assistants, including Todd Pletcher and Kiaran McLaughlin, who have become prominent trainers in their own right. The Lukas “training tree” is a testament to his mentorship and influence.
Lukas often made headlines for winning with longshots, embodying his belief, “You can’t win it if you’re not in it.” Notable examples include Spain at 55-1 in the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Distaff and Charismatic at 31-1 in the 1999 Kentucky Derby.
He also demonstrated success in pitting female horses against males, with mares like Winning Colors winning the Kentucky Derby and Althea achieving graded stakes wins against male competitors.
In his later years, Lukas made a point of inviting a child from the grandstand to join him in the winner’s circle after a victory, sharing his success with young fans. The Lukas family expressed their confidence in Bas Nicholl, 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.”
Top Horses and Accomplishments:
- Four-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer: Winning Colors (1988), Thunder Gulch (1995), Grindstone (1996), and Charismatic (1999).
- Seven-time Preakness Stakes winning trainer: Codex (1980), Tank’s Prospect (1985), Tabasco Cat (1994), Timber Country (1995), Charismatic (1999), Oxbow (2013), and Seize the Grey (2024).
- Four-time Belmont Stakes winning trainer: Tabasco Cat (1994), Thunder Gulch (1995), Editor’s Note (1996), and Commendable (2000).
- Record six consecutive Triple Crown races won (1994-1996).
- Five-time Kentucky Oaks winning trainer.
- Three-time Horse of the Year trainer.
- Trainer of a record 26 Eclipse Award champions.
- Numerous other Grade I winners and Breeders’ Cup victories across various divisions.
Accolades:
- Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee (1999).
- American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame inductee (2017).
- Fourteen-time national leader in money-won.
- Four-time Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Trainer.
- Eleven-time Churchill Downs champion trainer.
- Recipient of The John W. Galbreath Award for Outstanding Entrepreneurship in the Equine Industry.
- Numerous other honors and recognitions throughout his illustrious career.
