Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas died Saturday at his home in Louisville, Kentucky, after a brief illness. He was 89.

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LOUISVILLE, KY–JUNE 29, 2025–D. Wayne Lukas, the Hall of Fame trainer whose fierce competitiveness, vision, and unmatched horsemanship transformed the landscape of American horse racing, died Saturday at his home in Louisville, Kentucky, after a brief illness. He was 89.

Darrell Wayne Lukas, known simply as "D. Wayne" or affectionately as "The Coach," built a legacy that spanned more than five decades and defined modern Thoroughbred training.

Over his storied career, his horses won an astonishing 15 Triple Crown races, 20 Breeders' Cup races, and earned more than $300 million. His final victory came on June 12 at Churchill Downs — fittingly, the same track where his name became synonymous with greatness.

Born on a small farm in Antigo, Wisconsin, Lukas didn't grow up immersed in the bluegrass traditions of Kentucky. He attended the University of Wisconsin, earned a master's degree in education, and coached high school basketball before turning his competitive spirit toward horse racing.

His "coaching tree" is legendary — a generation of leading trainers, including Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher and Brad Cox, trace their roots to Lukas' shedrow, where discipline, detail, and relentless drive were taught daily.

He began his training career with Quarter Horses at Los Alamitos, winning 739 races and saddling 24 world champions before pivoting to Thoroughbreds. In 1977, he saddled his first Thoroughbred winner at Santa Anita Park, sparking an era of dominance that reshaped the sport. As Keeneland's president Shannon Arvin said, "His impact at Keeneland — and on the yearling sales ring — will not likely be seen again."

Lukas wasn't just a trainer — he was a trailblazer who built the blueprint for the modern racing stable. He flew his horses across the country to compete at every major meet, earning him the nickname "D. Wayne off the plane." He prioritized bloodlines and conformation long before it was common practice, changing the way horses were bred and sold.

Bob Baffert, a longtime friend and friendly rival, once said, "The horses were everything to Wayne. From the way he worked them, how he cared for them, and how he maintained his shedrow as meticulously as he did his horses. No detail was too small. Many of us got our graduate degrees in training by studying how Wayne did it."

Lukas' Triple Crown journey began in 1980 when Codex won the Preakness Stakes in a controversial finish over Derby-winning filly Genuine Risk. He would go on to win the Kentucky Derby four times, the Preakness seven times, and the Belmont Stakes four times, including the unprecedented feat in 1995 when he swept all three races with two different horses. His innovative approach and fierce drive made him a fixture in the winner's circle and a legend in the sport.

His life, however, was not untouched by heartbreak. In 1993, his son and assistant, Jeff Lukas, suffered a devastating accident when struck by a loose horse. Jeff never fully recovered and passed away in 2016, a loss that Lukas carried in his heart for the rest of his life. His family said in a statement, "He is now reunited with his beloved son, Jeff, whose memory he carried always."

Tributes poured in from across the racing world as news of Lukas' passing spread. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association called him a "Mount Rushmore figure" for the sport. Spendthrift Farm noted how he shaped champions on the track and mentored generations of horsemen and horsewomen who carry his legacy forward. Bob Baffert said it best: "The horses were his life. Behind his famous shades, he was probably the greatest horseman who ever lived."

His last Triple Crown win came just last year when Seize The Grey captured the Preakness Stakes, a moment made sweeter by the respect of his peers. "Every one of the guys in that race stopped, hugged me, and gave me a handshake," Lukas said after the race. "That meant more to me than any single thing."

His family said, "His final days were spent at home, where he chose peace, family, and faith. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support. His legacy lives on in every champion he trained, every trainer he mentored, and every fan who never missed a post parade when 'Lukas' was listed in the program."

D. Wayne Lukas is survived by his wife, Laurie; grandchildren Brady Wayne Lukas and Kelly Roy; and great-grandchildren Johnny Roy, Thomas Roy, Walker Wayne Lukas, and Quinn Palmer Lukas. Funeral arrangements are pending. The sport he shaped will never be the same.