All-time great D Wayne Lukas quits training ranks battling 'severe infection'
The four-time Kentucky Derby winner, whose career spanned six decades, has declined an aggressive treatment plan to spend his remaining time with his family
All-time great trainer D Wayne Lukas has called time on his six decades long career because of declining health. The 89-year-old has trained nearly 5,000 winners, including 15 in Triple Crown races of which four were Kentucky Derby winners, and a record 20 Breeders' Cup winners. He has topped the US trainers' rankings by prize-money won 14 times.
A statement said Lukas has been hospitalised in Louisville, Kentucky, with a severe and worsening infection. He has declined an aggressive treatment plan and will soon return home to spend his remaining time with his family.
Under a pre-arranged succession plan, long-time assistant Sebastian 'Bas' Nicholl, a former captain in the British Army who fought in the first Gulf War, will take over the training licence.
Lukas, who entered US racing's Hall of Fame in 1999, has trained 26 Eclipse Award champions, including three that were crowned Horse of the Year.
'Wayne is one of the greatest competitors and most important figures in Thoroughbred racing history,' said Mike Anderson, President of Churchill Downs Racetrack.
'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.'
Lukas amassed 4,967 wins and his horses earned more than $301 million from 30,607 starts, including 1,105 stakes wins of which 637 were of the graded stakes variety.
His final winner came on June 12 at Churchill Downs with Tour Player, who is owned by the wife of fellow trainer Bob Baffert.
Nicholl left the army in 1995, working in Ireland for Edward O'Grady and joined the Lukas operation in 2002.
'Wayne built a legacy that will never be matched,' Nicholl said. '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.'
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The Herald Scotland
4 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
American great D. Wayne Lukas retires amid health battle
His long-serving assistant, Englishman Sebastian 'Bas' Nicholl will take over the running of his stable. 'Wayne is one of the greatest competitors and most important figures in Thoroughbred racing history,' said Mike Anderson, president of Churchill Downs said on '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.' Lukas, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999, has won the Kentucky Derby four times among his 15 Triple Crown race wins and has 20 victories at the Breeders' Cup, a record matched only by Aidan O'Brien. Lukas trained his last winner on June 12 at Churchill Downs when Tour Player was successful. His first thoroughbred success came in October 1977. Nicholl, a former tank commander in the British Army, said: 'Wayne built a legacy that will never be matched. 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 honouring everything that he's built.' Some of Lukas' best horses included Thunder Gulch, owned by Michael Tabor, Winning Colours and Tabasco Cat.
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
All-time great D Wayne Lukas quits training ranks battling 'severe infection'
The four-time Kentucky Derby winner, whose career spanned six decades, has declined an aggressive treatment plan to spend his remaining time with his family All-time great trainer D Wayne Lukas has called time on his six decades long career because of declining health. The 89-year-old has trained nearly 5,000 winners, including 15 in Triple Crown races of which four were Kentucky Derby winners, and a record 20 Breeders' Cup winners. He has topped the US trainers' rankings by prize-money won 14 times. A statement said Lukas has been hospitalised in Louisville, Kentucky, with a severe and worsening infection. He has declined an aggressive treatment plan and will soon return home to spend his remaining time with his family. Under a pre-arranged succession plan, long-time assistant Sebastian 'Bas' Nicholl, a former captain in the British Army who fought in the first Gulf War, will take over the training licence. Lukas, who entered US racing's Hall of Fame in 1999, has trained 26 Eclipse Award champions, including three that were crowned Horse of the Year. 'Wayne is one of the greatest competitors and most important figures in Thoroughbred racing history,' said Mike Anderson, President of Churchill Downs Racetrack. '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.' Lukas amassed 4,967 wins and his horses earned more than $301 million from 30,607 starts, including 1,105 stakes wins of which 637 were of the graded stakes variety. His final winner came on June 12 at Churchill Downs with Tour Player, who is owned by the wife of fellow trainer Bob Baffert. Nicholl left the army in 1995, working in Ireland for Edward O'Grady and joined the Lukas operation in 2002. 'Wayne built a legacy that will never be matched,' Nicholl said. '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.'
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
Legendary trainer rushed to hospital with ‘worsening' serious illness as horses urgently moved to assistant
LEGENDARY horse trainer D Wayne Lukas has been rushed to hospital with a 'worsening' serious illness. The iconic US handler, praised for revolutionising racing in the States, has urgently transferred all his horses to his British assistant. 1 Lukas, 89, trained some of the biggest names in the sport including previous Horses of the Year Charismatic and Criminal Type. He won the Kentucky Derby four times and dominated the Triple Crown races, winning six in a row in the mid-Nineties. His incredible career has seen his amass prize money winnings of £225million from a jaw-dropping 4,967 winners. Lukas is too ill to train again and his final winner came at Churchill Downs, home of the Derby, earlier this month. More to follow.
