The world of Thoroughbred racing was taken unexpectedly June 22 with the announcement that legendary Corridor of Fame coach D. Wayne Lukas could be stepping away from coaching after being hospitalized in Louisville, Ky.
As his friends and rivals realized the information, they had been fast to precise their ideas and prayers to Lukas and his household, in addition to their gratitude for all he has executed for the trade.
READ: Medical Issues Force Lukas to Exit Training Career
“He is meant a lot to so many individuals, to the complete trade,” stated Corridor of Fame coach Todd Pletcher, who labored as an assistant for Lukas previous to taking out his personal coach’s license in 1995. “He is been the face of racing for so long as I can bear in mind.
“His achievements are unparalleled. To have the success that he had over the variety of years he was in a position to compete on the highest stage, and win a Preakness at age 88, it was only a phenomenal profession. He had an outstanding affect on many trainers and the breeding trade. I do not suppose anybody has modified the sport the best way that he has.”
D. Wayne Lukas (on horseback) speaks with Todd Pletcher
Lukas despatched out Seize the Grey to victory in the 2024 Preakness Stakes (G1), which will be his 15th and final classic win of his career. Lukas’ enduring impact is best epitomized in the success of those he has taught. In addition to Pletcher, Kiaran McLaughlin, Dallas Stewart, and Mike Maker are just some of the conditioners who learned under Lukas before graduating to very successful training careers of their own.
“I think the organization that he built—and his son, Jeff, was a big part of—I think that was attractive to a lot of people that wanted to work in a first-class environment with some of the world’s best horses,” Pletcher said. “We wanted to participate in that, work for them, to watch and learn. It was tremendously organized; he really ran a tight ship. The care of the horses was always of the utmost importance. You just couldn’t think of a better place to learn.”
“We worked hard, we weren’t afraid of work. I’m sure he loved that about us,” said Stewart, who began working with Lukas when he was 26 and was an exercise rider for Lukas’ first Kentucky Derby (G1) winner, Winning Colors. “He was great at picking out horses. When you have fast horses to train, it makes the job a little easier.”
However, it was not just the trainers that worked directly under Lukas who found themselves learning from him. He also inspired his peers and competitors.
“I don’t think there are words that can possibly describe what Wayne’s done for horse racing,” said North America’s all-time winningest trainer, Steve Asmussen. “There’s no doubt that Wayne—coming from coaching basketball and running Quarter Horses to dominating the Triple Crown and all his Breeders’ Cup and world champions—made kids from the Midwest dream. It made you realize it was possible.”
Steve Asmussen (left) and D. Wayne Lukas during morning training at Churchill Downs
“He’s a guy that I idolized and respected for decades,” said Kenny McPeek, who has won all three Triple Crown races in his career. “He is very much a friend and father figure. He raised the bar as high as anybody has ever raised it. The changes he’s shown the sport, you see them today. He’s a great man.”
Lukas’ reach extended beyond trainers as he was known for giving young jockeys the opportunities to prove themselves on the big stage. One of the most recent to experience and learn from his coaching was Jaime Torres, who picked up his first career graded stakes victories and classic win with Seize the Grey.
“He’s meant everything,” Torres said of Lukas’ impact on his career. “The loyalty he had to me in my first year as a journeyman means a lot. You don’t see that often in this business. He means a lot to me.”
Now that Lukas has hung up the saddle for the final time, he leaves an absence in the sport that will not easily be filled.
“I think for a lot of us trainers, this will be the first time in our careers that we won’t be competing against Wayne Lukas,” Pletcher said, putting in perspective the longevity his mentor has had at the top level. “Don’t lose sight of the fact that he did that after having a Hall of Fame Quarter Horse career.”
“I was looking at some videos when he might have been 50 or 60. Then you look and see he won the Preakness a year ago,” Stewart said. “It’s just like a hard-knocking old horse that doesn’t give up. He’s a tough cowboy that loved the game, loved riding horses, and loved to promote the business. I don’t know if there’s ever been anybody like him or will be like him.”
Aside from his achievements and accolades earned on the racetrack, one of the things that will be missed most about Lukas was his presence and upbeat attitude at the barns, in the paddock, and beyond.
“You could hardly ever beat him to the track,” said Stewart, whose barn at Churchill Downs sits just across the road from Lukas’ famed barn 44. “Two weeks ago when I pulled up there, he was there already. He’s a real winner, I’ll tell you that.”
“To me, the amazing thing about Wayne is that at all times and at all stages, just how positive he was about what he was going to do and what he could get done,” Asmussen said.
“He’s probably the most resilient person that I’ve ever been around and certainly one of the most optimistic,” Pletcher said. “When I first saw him at the Derby this year at Churchill and went over to talk to him, in typical Wayne fashion, he was telling me how awesome his horse was doing and how he was training unbelievable coming into the race. He always bounced back and kept that positive attitude and was always thinking positively.
“That type of energy is unparalleled.”
