D. Wayne Lukas, Triple Crown racehorse trainer, dies at 89
FILE-D. Wayne Lukas, trainer of American Promise, looks on during morning workouts prior to the running of the 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 01, 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
D. Wayne Lukas, the renowned Triple Crown racehorse trainer, died over the weekend. He was 89. Lukas’ family announced that he had died on Saturday at his home in Louisville, Kentucky. His death happened a few days after his family said he would no longer train because of health issues.
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The Associated Press reported that Lukas was hospitalized with a severe MRSA infection and declined an aggressive treatment plan, instead opting to return home.
Lukas’ 4,953rd and final thoroughbred winner was Tour Player at Churchill Downs on June 12, and the famed trainer’s final Kentucky Derby runner finished 16th in May, according to the AP.
Who was D. Wayne Lukas?
The backstory:
D. Wayne Lukas grew up in Antigo, Wisconsin and went on to coach high school basketball in the state and later worked as an assistant at the University of Wisconsin.
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Lukas later moved to California in 1968 and began training quarter horses. According to the Associated Press, Lukas had success in the industry, overseeing 24 world champions in a decade, and transitioned to thoroughbreds, earning his first win at Santa Anita in 1977. Lukas became the first trainer to earn more than $100 million in purse money, and 14 times he led the U.S. in money won.
Lukas’ racehorse accomplishments
Dig deeper:
During his illustrious career, D. Wayne Lukas had 15 Triple Crown race victories, including six in a row, 20 Breeders’ Cup victories, three Horse of the Year champions, and four Eclipse Awards as the nation’s outstanding trainer.
Lukas also became the first trainer to be inducted into both the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame.
In 2022, Lukas earned his record-tying fifth victory in the Kentucky Oaks and first since 1990. The Associated Press reported that he was the oldest trainer to win a Triple Crown race when Seize the Grey won the 2024 Preakness and followed up with a win in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Associated Press, which provides background on D. Wayne Lukas and his accomplishments in the horse racing industry. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.