D. Wayne Lukas, a Living Legend, Bids Farewell to the Backstretch

At 89, and battling a severe infection, the trainer was hospitalized in Louisville and will not return to work; his legacy is eternal

D. Wayne Lukas, a Global Icon of the Turf

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (Special for Turf Diario).- The world of horse racing received sobering news Saturday as D. Wayne Lukas, one of the most influential and accomplished trainers in the history of the sport, was hospitalized in Louisville due to a severe infection and will not return to training, according to a statement from his family. He is 89.

The statement revealed that Lukas has chosen not to pursue aggressive treatment and will return home in the coming days to be with his 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 family also requested privacy and respect during this difficult time.

Lukas Enterprises Inc. confirmed that his stable has been transferred to his longtime assistant Sebastian “Bas” Nicholl, who worked alongside the Hall of Famer for more than two decades.

A Hall of Fame inductee since 1999, Lukas transformed the sport with a relentless focus on detail, preparation, and professionalism. He trained four Kentucky Derby winners, five Kentucky Oaks heroines, and 26 Eclipse Award champions, including three Horses of the Year, redefining the standard for excellence in American racing.

“Wayne is one of the greatest competitors and icons the sport has ever seen. His legacy extends well beyond racing, and his influence will be felt for generations,” said Churchill Downs President Mike Anderson. “The depth of his wisdom, character, and competitive spirit is immeasurable. Today, our thoughts are with his family and all who admired him.”

Over a career that spanned six decades, Lukas amassed 4,967 victories from 30,607 starters, earning over $301 million. He captured 1,105 stakes wins, including 637 graded events, and remains the second-most decorated trainer in Triple Crown races with 15 wins, trailing only Bob Baffert (17). He also shares the record for 20 Breeders’ Cup victories and was named Eclipse Award Outstanding Trainer four times.

Lukas’s final win came on June 12 at Churchill Downs with Tour Player, a son of American Pharoah owned by Jill Baffert, who entrusted the horse to her family’s dear friend.

Sebastian Nicholl, a former tank commander in the Gulf War and English-born horseman, has worked with Lukas since 2002 after early experience under Edward O’Grady and Pat Byrne.

“Wayne built a legacy that can never be matched,” said Nicholl, visibly emotional. “Every time I make a decision or saddle a horse, I’ll hear his voice in my head. It’s not about replacing him—no one can—but about honoring everything he created.”

American racing—and the sport at large—already misses him.