LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – To see how the legacy of the late D. Wayne Lukas will live on in the sport he loved — and helped to change — you only had to watch the final day of Churchill Downs’ spring meet on Sunday.
On paper, it looked like any other race day. But when word came that Lukas had died, the card took on the feel of a farewell — one written not in words, but in winners.
In the $296,000 Hanshin Stakes, a 4-year-old colt named Will Take It found a little something extra in the final strides to win for Dallas Stewart — who spent 12 years as an assistant to Lukas.
“This one’s for D.W.L.,” Stewart said after the race.
One race later, another familiar figure from the Lukas barn was back in the spotlight. Pin Up Betty, a 4-year-old homebred filly, rallied in the stretch to win for Mike Maker — who was an assistant to Lukas for a decade.
“This one’s for D.W.L.,” Maker echoed.
They weren’t the only connections. Brad Cox — part of Lukas’ extended training line as a former assistant to Stewart — added a victory of his own, winning the $250,000 Maxfield Stakes with the unbeaten Verifire.
And a day earlier, in Churchill’s traditional end-of-meet showcase, Mindframe stormed home to win the Stephen Foster Stakes for Todd Pletcher — Lukas’ most decorated protégé.
The track paused for a moment of silence just before 3 p.m., and longtime bugler Steve Buttelman played “My Old Kentucky Home.”
An emotional Churchill Downs director of communications Darren Rogers was interviewed in the winner’s circle shortly after. Just a week earlier, he had delivered the sad news that Lukas had chosen to end his racing operation and return home, declining aggressive medical treatment in order to spend his final days with family.
“I first met Wayne when I started in the game back in 1994, on the backstretch of Santa Anita, as a cub notes person,” Rogers said. “Wayne had all the top horses back then, and he kind of took me under his wing — taught me how to talk to trainers, when’s a good time, called you into the office. Just like he did with everybody around the game. … Now he’s in a better place. He’s not in pain. But what a stubborn old cowboy. We’re all going to miss that guy.”
The gates still opened. The races ran on. But as one former assistant after another stepped into the winner’s circle, it was clear the man who transformed modern training hadn’t left the sport behind — he’d just handed it off.
More on D. Wayne Lukas:
D. Wayne Lukas, Hall of Fame trainer who transformed thoroughbred racing, dies at 89
Scott Davenport praises storied career of friend D. Wayne Lukas as trainer retires
Coffee with Crawford | D. Wayne Lukas never let the old man in — now he’s turning for home
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas retires from racing amid serious health issues
Seize the Grey wins the Preakness for D. Wayne Lukas and ends Mystik Dan’s Triple Crown bid
At 88 and still in the saddle, Lukas to receive Derby Museum's first Lifetime Achievement Award
BOZICH | COVID-19 could not stop D. Wayne Lukas from savoring Kentucky Derby week
CRAWFORD | Lukas is back in the saddle for another Derby week after beating back COVID-19
BOZICH | Virus delay drives D. Wayne Lukas's Kentucky Derby dream
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