Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas hospitalized, steps away from the sport
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- Trainer D. Wayne Lukas hospitalized in Louisville, retires from horse racing.
- Assistant Sebastian Nicholl assumes care of Lukas' horses after handover.
- Lukas ends career with 4,967 wins and over $301 million in earnings since 1960s.
Hall of Fame thoroughbred horse racing trainer D. Wayne Lukas, a four-time Kentucky Derby winner and four-time Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer honoree, has been hospitalized in Louisville and will not return to the sport, Churchill Downs announced Sunday afternoon.
“According to (his) family, Lukas, 89, has battled a severe infection that has worsened his condition,” Churchill Downs’ report said. “Lukas has declined an aggressive treatment plan and will soon return home to spend his remaining time with wife Laurie, grandchildren Brady Wayne Lukas (Dani) and Kelly Roy (David) and great grandchildren Johnny Roy, Thomas Roy, Walker Wayne Lukas and Quinn Palmer Lukas.”
The horses previously under Lukas’ care have been transferred to his veteran assistant Sebastian “Bas” Nicholl, the report said.
Lukas, who was chosen for the United States’ Racing Hall of Fame in 1999, won the Kentucky Derby with Winning Colors (1988), Thunder Gulch (1995), Grindstone (1996) and Charismatic (1999).
He’s a seven-time Preakness Stakes winner with Codex (1980), Tank’s Prospect (1985), Tabasco Cat (1994), Timber Country (1995), Charismatic (1999), Oxbow (2013) and Seize the Grey (2024).
He won the Belmont Stakes four times with Tabasco Cat (1994), Thunder Gulch (1995), Editor’s Note (1996) and Commendable (2000).
Also, to his credit is winning a record six consecutive Triple Crown races: the 1994 Preakness (Tabasco Cat), the 1994 Belmont (Tabasco Cat), the 1995 Kentucky Derby (Thunder Gulch), the 1995 Preakness (Timber Country), the 1995 Belmont (Thunder Gulch) and the 1996 Kentucky Derby (Grindstone).
He won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer in 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1994.
“Wayne is one of the greatest competitors and most important figures in thoroughbred racing history,” Mike Anderson, the president of Churchill Downs Racetrack, said in the track’s announcement. “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.”
According to Churchill Downs, Lukas amassed 4,967 thoroughbred wins during his six-decade career. His horses earned more than $301 million from 30,607 starts, including 1,105 stakes wins (637 of those were graded stakes).
His final triumph came on June 12 at Churchill Downs with 4-year-old colt Tour Player in an allowance race.
Churchill Downs said Nicholl, a native of England now taking over Lukas’ horses, came to the United States in 1999 to work with trainer Pat Byrne before joining Lukas’ operation on Jan. 18, 2002.
“Wayne built a legacy that will never be matched,” Nicholl said, according to the release. “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.”
More highlights from D. Wayne Lukas’ career
▪ Five-time Kentucky Oaks winning trainer with Brush With Pride (1982), Lucky Lucky Lucky (1984), Open Mind (1989), Seaside Attraction (1990) and Secret Oath (2022).
▪ Three-time Horse of the Year trainer with Lady’s Secret (1986), Criminal Type (1990) and Charismatic (1999).
▪ Won the 1999 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Gulfstream Park with 19-1 long shot Cat Thief.
▪ Five-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with Capote (1986), Success Express (1987), Is It True (1988), Timber Country (1994) and Boston Harbor (1996).
▪ Six-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies with Twilight Ridge (1985), Open Mind (1988), Flanders (1994), Cash Run (1999), Folklore (2005) and Take Charge Brandi (2014).
▪ Enshrined in American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 20017.
▪ Eleven-time Churchill Downs champion trainer (Fall 1988, Spring 1989, Fall 1989, Spring 1990, Fall 1990, Fall 1991, Spring 1993, Spring 1995, Spring 1996, Fall 1996 and Spring 2000).
This story was originally published June 22, 2025 at 5:03 PM.