Hall of Fame horse trainer D. Wayne Lukas, dies at 89

**ChuckyTheGoat** · 06-30-25, 02:29 PM

Thoroughbreds trained with major wins

Kentucky Derby

**ChuckyTheGoat** · 06-30-25, 03:01 PM

Will go back and watch his Derby winners tonite:

*I believe he was highly respected among the trainers/jockeys.

RIP, Mr Lukas.

**hawkwind** · 06-30-25, 03:34 PM

R.I.P. D.W.L . He was My All Time Favorite Trainer I am Truly Saddened by his Passing

**str** · 06-30-25, 04:17 PM

D. Wayne carved the path for the next generation of trainers that work with extremely high end ownership.
He was great at what he did.
Because he did things differently, and extravagantly and because it was not the normal old school way of doing things, it was not always fully embraced by the horsemen’s community.
In time as he got older and had to deal with personal tragedy, as well as his ways becoming more excepted, mainly through winning and the younger trainers that were coming from his stable, it all became a bit more acceptable to other trainers and the industry as a whole.
He was groundbreaking, different, did things his way not necessarily THE way.

The brilliant turf writer Jay Hovdey, wrote about him yesterday. I encourage you to read it if you’re interested. He summed up all that transpired brilliantly I thought.
I think Mr. Lukas would have agreed.

Lukas Grabbed the Spotlight and Held Tight From Day One

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/285441/lukas-grabbed-the-spotlight-and-held-tight-from-day-one

In this week's edition of On Racing: Jay Hovdey provides a forthright look at the complex career of Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

**ChuckyTheGoat** · 06-30-25, 07:43 PM

Originally posted by str

D. Wayne carved the path for the next generation of trainers that work with extremely high end ownership.
He was great at what he did.
Because he did things differently, and extravagantly and because it was not the normal old school way of doing things, it was not always fully embraced by the horsemen’s community.
In time as he got older and had to deal with personal tragedy, as well as his ways becoming more excepted, mainly through winning and the younger trainers that were coming from his stable, it all became a bit more acceptable to other trainers and the industry as a whole.
He was groundbreaking, different, did things his way not necessarily THE way.

The brilliant turf writer Jay Hovdey, wrote about him yesterday. I encourage you to read it if you’re interested. He summed up all that transpired brilliantly I thought.
I think Mr. Lukas would have agreed.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-rac...t-from-day-one

That's a great tribute, str. I knew about his Wisconsin upbringings. I knew about his son's accident. He used to golf occasionally. After the accident, he got back to basics and focused on horses.

Wondered about an insider's perspective. Can only imagine the hours you guys spend with the horse. Hell of an industry, has to be fulfilling when you see your horse get to the Winner's Circle.

**ChuckyTheGoat** · 06-30-25, 08:01 PM

Charismatic in 1999. Lukas' last Derby win:

Antley on the ride. Now, they're both gone.

**str** · 07-01-25, 09:14 AM

Originally posted by ChuckyTheGoat

That's a great tribute, str. I knew about his Wisconsin upbringings. I knew about his son's accident. He used to golf occasionally. After the accident, he got back to basics and focused on horses.

Wondered about an insider's perspective. Can only imagine the hours you guys spend with the horse. Hell of an industry, has to be fulfilling when you see your horse get to the Winner's Circle.

It's hard to quantify how fulfilling it can be sometimes Chucky. All the different people that work together to make it all happen. You spend almost everyday with a lot of those people. Thanksgiving, Christmas , Easter morning, and every other day as well.

You met a few of them.

So many of those horses, you get to know so up close and personally, that they talk to you.

And although in the end, I choose to not continue to participate in the game any longer, I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

It's a team effort.

**ChuckyTheGoat** · 07-01-25, 09:26 AM

Very nice, str. That's a great summary.

A horse is an amazing animal. So powerful. They follow a routine like anyone else. Trainers talked about putting the oats out, and the horse would know that he's running later that day.

I used to read about horse body-language. The top analysts claim that they know when a horse is ready to run. Lukas even hinted that he'd get a good feeling about one of his horses being ready to run a big-one.

**str** · 07-01-25, 09:47 AM

If the routine is to work an easy 3/8ths or half a few days before, most of them know what’s up. If the groom braids their mane, it’s “game face “ time a day ahead of time. Not all of them but certainly the old pros.
It’s the things fans don’t see until it is pointed out and then they do see it and wonder how they missed it all those years.
A whole subset of things show up . Learning them was a trip. Teaching them even better.
You met some of those people. It’s a pretty cool feeling to see a leading trainer years later that you showed some of the subtleties too. Like Kieron McGee or Little Benny Feliciano. Paying it forward is such a reward in that game.
Thanks Chucky.

**ChuckyTheGoat** · 07-03-25, 12:25 PM

Salud, str. I always like seeing the videos of the trainer after their horse crossed the line. The broad smile tells me how much time they spent with that horse.