IMAGES | Legendary horse trainer D. Wayne Lukas dies at 89
- Updated
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, far right, claps as jockey Jaime Torres, left, Seize The Grey part owner Michael Behrens, founder and CEO of MyRacehorse, and trainer D. Wayne Lukas hold the Woodlawn Vase after winning the Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
- Julia Nikhinson
D. Wayne Lukas, trainer of Charismatic, looks on as the horse is given a bath after a morning workout Thursday, June 3, 1999 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. The winner of the Kentucky Derby and The Preakness, Charismatic has a chance to win the Triple Crown with a victory in Saturday's Belmont Stakes. (AP Photo/John Dunn)
- JOHN DUNN
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas at the dedication of a Kentucky Derby Museum exhibit in his honor in 2024.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas stands in front of his stables with a bed of roses after his colt Grindstone won the 122nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 1996, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Rey Au)
- REY AU
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas kisses the winner's trophy after his colt Grindstone won the 122nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 1996, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
- AL BEHRMAN
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, at age 89, aboard his pony as his Kentucky Derby hopeful American Promise trains in April 2025 at Churchill Downs.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Bob Baffert is greeted by trainer D. Wayne Lukas at Churchill Downs on April 25, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas celebrates in the winners circle after his horse Thunder Gulch, ridden by Gary Stevens, won the 121st running of the Kentucky Derby, at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 6, 1995, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)
- Ed Reinke
Hall of Fame trainers D. Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert watch a photo finish between their horses on Nov. 27, 2024.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas on horseback on April 26, 2024, at Churchill Downs.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas at Churchill Downs on April 26, 2024.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas checks his barn schedule early during a training session at Churchill Downs on April 26, 2024..
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Preakness winner Oxbow is watched by trainer D. Wayne Lukas after a light workout, Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. Oxbow is entered in Saturday's Belmont Stakes horse race. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
- Mark Lennihan
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas at Churchill Downs on April 26, 2024.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Hall of Fame trainers Steve Asmussen, D. Wayne Lukas and Bill Mott talk on horseback during Churchill Downs training on April 24, 2024.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
D. Wayne Lukas the morning after his Secret Oath won the Kentucky Oaks. (Photo by Eric Crawford)
- ERIC CRAWFORD
The barn of Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas on Kentucky Derby morning, 2022.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
D. Wayne Lukas the morning after his Secret Oath won the Kentucky Oaks. (Photo by Eric Crawford)
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas was back at the track at 4 a.m. the morning after his Secret Oath won the Kentucky Oaks. (Eric Crawford photo)
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas
D. Wayne Lukas meets with reporters Saturday morning after winning the 148th Kentucky Oaks with Secret Oath. May 7, 2022.
D. Wayne Lukas after his filly, Secret Oath, won the Kentucky Oaks on May 6, 2022.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas watches horses train on the morning of April 23, 2022 at Churchill Downs.
- Eric Crawford
D. Wayne Lukas in his barn with WDRB's Sterling Riggs.
D. Wayne Lukas' desk in his Churchill Downs barn.
- Sterling Riggs
A wall in the Churchill Downs barn office of Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
- Sterling Riggs
D. Wayne Lukas on the morning of May 2, 2022.
- Tom Round
D. Wayne Lukas in his barn at Churchill Downs.
- Sterling Riggs
D. Wayne Lukas on horseback early on the morning of May 2 at Churchill Downs.
- Tom Round
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, far right, claps as jockey Jaime Torres, left, Seize The Grey part owner Michael Behrens, founder and CEO of MyRacehorse, and trainer D. Wayne Lukas hold the Woodlawn Vase after winning the Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
- Julia Nikhinson
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas on his pony during training at Churchill Downs on April 23, 2022.
- Eric Crawford photo.
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas on his pony during training at Churchill Downs on April 23, 2022.
- Eric Crawford
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas watches horses train at Churchill Downs on April 30, 2022.
- Eric Crawford
D. Wayne Lukas, trainer of Charismatic, looks on as the horse is given a bath after a morning workout Thursday, June 3, 1999 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. The winner of the Kentucky Derby and The Preakness, Charismatic has a chance to win the Triple Crown with a victory in Saturday's Belmont Stakes. (AP Photo/John Dunn)
- JOHN DUNN
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas watches horses train on the morning of April 23, 2022 at Churchill Downs.
- Eric Crawford
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas watches a workout at Churchill Downs Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
- Charlie Riedel
Even at 85, D. Wayne Lukas still takes his horses to the Churchill Downs track early every morning. WDRB Photo/Eric Crawford
FILE - Trainer D. Wayne Lukas watches a workout at Churchill Downs May 1, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
- Charlie Riedel
Despite a scare from COVID-19, trainer D. Wayne Lukas is back at Churchill Downs this spring. WDRB Photo/Rick Bozich
The exterior of the barn of D. Wayne Lukas is seen at Churchill Downs Wednesday, May 1, 2019, in Louisville, Ky. The 145th running of the Kentucky Derby is scheduled for Saturday, May 4. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
- Gregory Payan
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas looks on before the 147th running of the Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 21, 2022, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
- Julio Cortez
D. Wayne Lukas, 85, made his first trip to the Kentucky Derby in 1981. WDRB Photo/Rick Bozich
Thoroughbred trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
- Eric Crawford photo.
Hall of Fame trainer and 4-time winner of the Kentucky Derby D. Wayne Lukas is framed by the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs.
- Eric Crawford photo.
D. Wayne Lukas (right) said that trainer Bob Baffert will remain the man to beat whenever the Kentucky Derby is run.
D. Wayne Lukas has won four Kentucky Derbies -- and 14 Triple Crown races.
As featured on
Hall of Fame horse trainer D. Wayne Lukas, one of the most iconic figures in thoroughbred racing history, is stepping away from the sport at the age of 89.
A four-time Kentucky Derby winner and 20-time Breeders’ Cup champion, Lukas didn’t just train champions — he trained the sport itself, reshaping everything from barn management to the way top horses are scouted, shipped, and prepared.
His passing leaves a gap that stretches from Belmont Park to Santa Anita from Gulfstream Park to any track or sales ring in Kentucky.
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