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Organizations and individuals within the Thoroughbred racing community reflect on contributions and legacy of legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who died at age 89.

Iowa-bred Somavia was impressive in her second career start, winning a maiden special weight contest at Prairie Meadows June 29. Her victory provided the first career winner for her sire, Basin.

Nacho Problem broke her maiden June 29 at Belmont at the Big A and with it gave her sire, Waiting, his first winner. Breaking from the outside in a field of eight, the chestnut led throughout the six-furlong turf challenge for New York-breds.

Roll On Big Joe's win in the Kelly's Landing Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs June 28 rewarded breeder Max Ubide tenfold June 28 by collecting his second graded stakes win of the year. Ubide bred, raised and broke the son of Prospective.

After D. Wayne Lukas' death was announced June 29, his former assistants Dallas Stewart and Mike Maker were successful in accomplishing what he taught them to do: win.

Jockey Jose Ortiz, trainer Joe Sharp, and owner Godolphin topped their respective standings for the 2025 Churchill Downs Spring Meet, which concluded June 29.

Haras Phillipson's undefeated homebred Touch of Destiny dominated the Asociacion Uruguaya de Propietarios de Caballos de Carrera (G3) at Hipodromo Maronas June 29 with a gate-to-wire victory and earned a spot in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

Joseph Lloyd's Romeo romped home to win the $225,000 Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs June 29 by three lengths, finishing in a stakes record for the six furlong race.

Calandagan finally made his breakthrough in group 1 company June 29 when running out the impressive winner of the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1).

Lambourn followed in his sire and grandsire's footsteps to become the 20th horse to complete the Epsom Derby (G1) and Irish Derby (G1) double.

Twenty-five-time group 1 winning Winx's colt by Snitzel will sell at next year's Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. The colt has been raised at Coolmore Stud which will also consign him.

The inaugural edition of the Goffs Classic Breeze-Up Sale generated €2,565,500 in turnover, a €65,783 average price and a median of €45,000 June 28. A colt by Starspangledbanner was the sales-topper at €330,000.

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas passed away Saturday at the age of 89, leaving a long and deep legacy on the global Thoroughbred industry. Coglianese Photo.

By Lynne Snierson/NYRA

The New York Racing Association, Inc. mourns the passing of legendary Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas at age 89, who passed away on Saturday evening after battling serious illness in recent weeks.

“D. Wayne Lukas’ vision and creativity transformed horse racing forever,” said David O’Rourke, NYRA president and chief executive officer. “He achieved success on a scale without precedent and developed a generation of trainers who continue to shape the future of the sport. New York’s racing community and fans will miss Wayne, and we look forward to celebrating his life and legacy this summer at Saratoga Race Course.”

New York is the biggest stage in the world and no one in the sport of thoroughbred racing has been a brighter star at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course than Lukas.

Though recognized for his custom-made Italian suits, aviator sunglasses and an abundance of charisma, he is renowned and revered as the most innovative, influential and prolific trainer in history. For six decades, Lukas has been the dominant force in this sport which he revolutionized.

Before announcing his retirement on June 22 two months before his 90th birthday, “Coach” won 4,953 races and earned purses of $300,548,290. His 15 Triple Crown race victories are second only to fellow Hall of Famer and close friend Bob Baffert, and he long held the record for most Breeders’ Cups wins with 20 until Aidan O’Brien tied him last November. The four-time Eclipse Award-winner and four-time Kentucky Derby-winner trained 26 horses who won divisional championships and three of his charges attained the honor of Horse of the Year.

As a mentor and coach, Lukas leaves behind a long list of proteges, including fellow Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Classic-winner Kiaran McLaughlin, as well as George Weaver, Mark Hennig, Ron Moquett, Mike Maker, Dallas Stewart and Randy Bradshaw.

Horses conditioned by the legendary Lukas won 222 Grade 1s, many of which were contested at NYRA tracks. He won outright or shared 16 leading trainer titles at Belmont and Saratoga in the 1980s and 1990s, and his trophy case holds the hardware from almost all the illustrious top-level races at Belmont and Saratoga. Even better, he took most of those Grade 1 events in New York more than once.

Count among his accomplishments four scores – and three straight – in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes at 1 1/2-miles at Belmont Park with Tabasco Cat [1994], Thunder Gulch [1995], Editor’s Note [1996] and Commendable [2000], and consider his trio of wins in the Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga with Corporate Report [1991], Thunder Gulch [1995], and Will Take Charge [2013].

Lukas, who is credited with changing the business model of horse racing, experienced some of his greatest achievements with his Belmont Stakes horses.

After taking the 1994 edition with Preakness winner Tabasco Cat – the colt who had trampled and nearly killed his only child and top assistant Jeff Lukas – in 1995, he planned to run Thunder Gulch. But the Kentucky Derby winner wasn’t his marquee player. That distinction went to stablemate and reigning Preakness winner Timber Country, who was installed as the heavy morning-line favorite once the pair was entered. But then Timber Country spiked a fever and was scratched the day before the Belmont.

Thunder Gulch rose to the occasion and was a two-length winner, and the victory gave Lukas a record fifth straight win in a Triple Crown race [to be extended to six straight when he took the 1996 Kentucky Derby with Grindstone].

“When we got down to one horse today, we knew we had to have it all on this little horse’s shoulders,” Lukas told the Washington Post. “I’m a little bit overwhelmed.”

In 1999, Lukas was on a hot streak with Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Charismatic, whom he had elevated from the claiming ranks earlier in the season. Dispatched as the 8-5 favorite in the field of 12, the colt was leading in the stretch, and it looked as though Lukas would be the first to train a Triple Crown winner since 1978. Shockingly, Charismatic suffered a fractured leg but he still finished third.

“He was a part of our career – a big part of it,” Lukas told Daily Racing Form when Charismatic died in 2017. “You don’t replace Derby winners very easy. I really loved that horse. I was very fond of him. He was a knockout looker. When you get one that’s such an overachiever – I really thought that he might end up in the claiming ranks his entire career and the next thing he’s going for the Triple Crown – it was just a joy to be around him.”

Lukas, who has a record of 26-4-1-1 in the Belmont, was back in 2000 with Commendable. His final Belmont win is arguably his best Triple Crown training job. Commendable not only had finished 17th in the Kentucky Derby, but he was also winless since his debut the previous August at Del Mar and in six successive starts had fared no better than fourth. Yet, in the “Test of the Champion” Lukas had him at his best, scoring the upset at 18-1.

“If any touch of greatness rubbed off on Commendable, it probably came through his trainer, D. Wayne Lukas,” Joe Durso wrote in the New York Times.

No praise was higher than that bestowed by Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel, who had sent out the runner-up and favored Aptitude. “Give Lukas credit. I don’t know how he did it,” Frankel said after the race.

Lukas defied the odds in the Travers as well. In 1991 Corporate Report had been unable to catch Strike the Gold in the Kentucky Derby or Hansel in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, but he led all the way in the Mid-Summer Derby. After Thunder Gulch executed the Belmont-Travers double in 1995, it would be another 18 years before Lukas graced the Travers winner’s circle again. To get there, Coach called an audible for Will Take Charge, who had been beaten in all three 2013 Triple Crown races. He gave the mount to a young Luis Saez, and they pulled it off at 9-1.

“I changed up a few things. I took a chance on an up-and-coming young rider. You look terrible if it doesn’t work, but it’s sweet when it does,” Lukas, then 77, told Daily Racing Form’s Dave Grening. “It feels pretty good. It’s been a long time between drinks, but when they come like this they double.”

Lukas wouldn’t return to the Travers until 2018, when he saddled his final and 20th runner, Bravazo, to a third-place finish.

Another of Lukas’ Triple Crown competitors included New York-bred Grade 1 winner Victory Speech. A son of Deputy Minister out of the Alydar mare Ida’s Image, Victory Speech finished third in the Grade 3 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park and third in the Grade 3 Jim Beam Stakes at Turfway Park before a 10th in the Kentucky Derby and fifth in the Preakness Stakes in 1996. He later won four stakes as a 3-year-old, including the Empire Classic Handicap at Aqueduct, and earned his Grade 1 victory in the 1997 Strub Stakes at Santa Anita Park. Victory Speech, who was bred by Robert Entenmann, earned New York-bred Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male honors in 1996. He won nine of 27 starts and earned $1,289,020.

The Coach is the consummate horseman who has been a mentor, motivator, teacher, guide, influencer, inspiration, and most important, a friend to so many. His presence will forever loom large.

Multiple Grade 1 winning trainer Cherie DeVaux, who has been assigned Lukas’ former barn at Saratoga, summed it up best in a recent social media post.

“As I walked the shedrow this morning, I kept thinking about the horses that stood in these very stalls- champions whose names helped shape the sport. And then I sat in the office he left behind, at his desk, and stared at the empty chair. I wondered what he thought about in those quiet early hours. How many dreams began right there with a legal pad and a coffee?,” DeVaux wrote. “Wayne didn’t just train horses. He set a standard. He built a legacy that inspired generations, myself included. And while the tack room may bear a new name this summer, his spirit lingers in every inch of this place. Honored doesn’t begin to cover it. Grateful. Humbled. Inspired. We’ll do our best to honor what he built here – one horse, one morning, one moment at a time.”

Lukas’ Spa ledger includes a record number of wins in the Hopeful [8], Adirondack [7], Schuylerville [6], Spinaway [6, tied with Todd Pletcher], and H. Allen Jerkens Memorial, formerly the King’s Bishop [5]. However, when asked by NYRA’s press office in July 2024 to try and pick out a favorite Saratoga memory, he landed on the first-out maiden score by eventual Hall of Famer Winning Colors in August 1987.

“Any time you win one of these big stakes it’s a good memory. I think maybe it was Winning Colors breaking her maiden up here and going on to win the Kentucky Derby,” Lukas said. “I also remember one year up here I flew up and my son was running the barn and we had 13 individual Grade 1-winners in the barn. That was special.”

Lukas’s presence will be dearly missed by the sport, but his legacy will certainly live on.

The post In memory of D. Wayne Lukas appeared first on New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. News.

Sunday Girl soars in turf debut, winning Sunday’s John Hettinger Stakes at Aqueduct. Coglianese Photo.

Sunday Girl made a winning return in her first start since March and a successful turf debut in Sunday’s $125,000 John Hettinger Stakes for fillies and mares at Aqueduct.

Katie Davis guided the 4-year-old daughter of Central Banker to the front just after the break and they stayed there throughout the 6-furlong stakes. Sunday Girl, off since winning the Correction Stakes against open company March 2 at Aqueduct, won by 2 1/4 lengths over Silver Skillet for her fourth straight victory. Loon Cry, the even-money favorite in the field of seven, finished third. Sunday Girl won in 1:07.76 over the firm turf.

“That was a whole lot of fun,” said David Duggan, who trains the filly for owners Mitre Box Stable, Clear Stars Stable and Eight Note Stable. “I was concerned [about the turf debut]. We had breezed her on it at Saratoga and she got over it fine, but when you get into a competitive level like this, it’s a concern without having tried it.

“I knew we were going to be close to the pace but being given an easy lead like that, I didn’t think that was going to happen. It was fantastic.”

Sent off as the 5-2 third choice, Sunday Girl led Cara’s Time up the backstretch to the opening quarter-mile in :23.04 with Silver Skillet and Sinead tracking in third and fourth.

Cara’s Time got within a half-length entering the far turn as Silver Skilled angled to the outside to make a run. Sunday Girl responded to the immediate challenges, edging clear by 1 1/2 lengths after a half in :45.34. Sunday Girl spurted clear in the stretch and opened up 4 lengths in midstretch, past 5 furlongs in :56.21.

Davis stayed busy on Sunday Girl in the lane and she finished well clear of the runner-up and 5-2 second choice. Silver Skillet edged Loon Cry by 1 1/2 lengths for the place spot with Cara’s Time fourth. Soloshot, Sugar Bee and Sinead completed the field.

“I know the filly very well. They’ve done a wonderful job with her,” Davis said. “The question was, will she like the grass? They breezed her over it once, and said she did not look horrible, but she was green. Today, she came out of the gate and went nicely on the lead, down the backside, I knew I had it. She just floated over the turf. I’m happy she liked the turf because now we have more places to go.”

Sunday Girl commanded the top price for a New York-bred in the open portion of the 2022 OBS October yearling sale on a bid of $43,000 from Kathryn Martin. Mitre Box Stables purchased her for $100,000 about seven months later at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale, out of the de Meric Sales consignment.

Bred by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds LLC and Spruce Lane Farm and foaled at McMahon of Saratoga in Saratoga Springs, Sunday Girl is out of the winning Harlan’s Holiday mare Lady Daphne.

Sunday Girl is a half-sister to Lady Jasmine, a New York-bred daughter of Cairo Prince also bred by McMahon and Spruce Lane who won her debut in 2022 at Saratoga Race Course. She’s won two of 19 starts with two other placings and earned $103,146. Lady Daphne is also the dam of the winning New York-bred Laoban mare Proper Grammar.

Lady Daphne was purchased by McMahon of Saratoga for $17,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. She’s also the dam of the 3-year-old Solomini colt Brimsley and a 2-year-old New York-bred full sibling to Sunday Girl named Sunday Boy, who sold for $65,000 at the OBS March sale of 2-year-olds in training. Sunday Boy breezed a half-mile in :49.50 Saturday on the Belmont Park training track, his third official workout since the OBS sale. McMahon and Spruce Lane also bred a yearling full brother to Sunday Girl, foaled May 4, 2024.

Central Banker, a 15-year-old son of Speightstown, stands for $7,500 at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs. He’s topped the New York general sire list the last four seasons, including in 2024 with progeny earnings of $5,436,573.

Sunday Girl, winner of the Park Avenue division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes as a 3-year-old, improved to 7-for-9 and boosted her bankroll to $463,738.

“It’s huge,” Duggan said of the importance of having a filly like Sunday Girl in the barn. “How hard are these to find? For us, it’s extra special to have one like this. She’s a lot of fun.”

The post Sunday Girl rolls in John Hettinger Stakes appeared first on New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. News.

Percy's Bar (Upstart) set the mark high when she ran home a winner in the Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs on Sunday.

Posting a debut score by four lengths this past spring at Keeneland, the filly came into this race with a strong series of morning works under rider Luan Machado. Made a 3-1 shot with some tough company to contend with here, she watched the race unfold after the break behind a :21.29 opening quarter. Making an eye-catching sweep through the turn, she sailed by her rivals and rolled away from them all to win easily. Jaboss (Classic Empire) claimed second while 'TDN Rising Star' Color Comin' In (Rock Your World) picked up third.

The winner is her unraced dam's second to the races. A half-sister to a pair of stakes winners in Simply Spiteful (Speightstown) and Praetereo (Giant's Causeway), plus GISP Defense Wins (Flatter) and GSP Dawn's Charm (Hard Spun), Honestly Deb is responsible for 3-year-old filly in-training Citizen Judy (American Freedom) and she produced a filly by Cairo Prince last year. She was bred to Upstart once again for this past spring. Percy's Bar is part of an extended female family which includes MGSW Tasha's Miracle (Harlan's Holiday).

DEBUTANTE S., $225,000, Churchill Downs, 6-29, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:09.71, ft.
1–PERCY'S BAR, 120, f, 2, by Upstart
                1st Dam: Honestly Deb, by Super Saver
                2nd Dam: Deb's Charm, by Silver Charm
                3rd Dam: Ms. Cuvee Napa, by Relaunch
($52,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Hat Creek Racing; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Ben Colebrook; J-Luan Machado. $135,245. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $187,558.
2–Jaboss, 118, f, 2, Classic Empire–Indy Takes Charge, by Take Charge Indy. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Maribeth Sandford LLC (KY); T-Christopher Davis. $43,950.
3–Color Comin' In, 120, f, 2, Rock Your World–Sleepless Dixie, by Dixie Union. ($9,000 RNA Wlg '23 KEENOV; $11,000 Ylg '24 OBSOCT; $100,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-CKDS Racing Stable, LLC; B-Tomislav Mitrovski (KY); T-Norm Casse. $21,975.
Margins: 5, 1 1/4, 1. Odds: 3.44, 43.61, 5.18.
Also Ran: Americathegreat, Lilies N Paradise, Light Won Up, Essential Coffee, Mine Strike. Scratched: Vajra.

PERCY'S BAR ($8.88) served up a winning run in the $225,000 Debutante Stakes at @ChurchillDowns. @colebrookstable conditions the two-year-old by @AirdrieStud's Upstart. @luanmachado85 piloted the filly. pic.twitter.com/0loEqBwtrL

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) June 29, 2025

The post Upstart’s Percy’s Bar Much the Best in the Debutante appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Following the news of his passing, tributes  to legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas poured in from across the industry Sunday.

“A four-time winner of the Kentucky Derby, today we lost one of the great champions of Churchill Downs and one of the most significant figures in Thoroughbred racing over the last 50 years. We will miss his humor, his wisdom and his unmatched capacity to thrill the fans with the performances of his horses on our sport's biggest days.”

Bill Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill Downs Incorporated

“D. Wayne Lukas was a legend–a masterful trainer with passion, attention to detail and a tireless pursuit of success, as well as a mentor whose barn produced a number of racing's most successful trainers. His impact at Keeneland–where he was a presence for nearly 50 years–is not likely to be seen again.

“Since buying his first horse here in 1977, he influenced yearling sales through his emphasis on conformation and body type, while affecting the way horses were bred and prepped to produce yearlings that would appeal to him. After Wayne won his first Keeneland race in 1980, he set numerous records during our Spring and Fall Meets and across the country with a powerful stable of runners, many of which he and his clients had purchased here.

“On behalf of Keeneland, we extend our deepest condolences to Wayne's wife, Laurie, and his entire family.”

Shannon Arvin, Keeneland President and CEO

“The Maryland Jockey Club mourns the loss of legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas, a true titan of Thoroughbred racing. His unmatched accomplishments, unwavering dedication, and enduring influence on the sport have left an indelible mark on racing history. With seven wins in the Preakness Stakes, D. Wayne was not only a champion on the track, but a mentor and inspiration to generations of horsemen and women. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the entire racing community. His legacy will forever be part of Maryland Racing and the Preakness Stakes.”

Bill Knauf, President and General Manager of TMJC

“Along with the Thoroughbred racing community, the team at Breeders' Cup Limited mourns the passing of Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

“From the inaugural 1984 running of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, where he saddled three starters, to the 2024 edition, where he sent out his last Breeders' Cup contender, Wayne set the bar with his constant pursuit of the pinnacle of our great sport.

“At the time of his passing, he held the record for most Breeders' Cup wins by a trainer with 20, an achievement matched in 2024 by Aidan O'Brien. For 14 years, from 1983 to 1997, he was the trainer with the most Breeders' Cup earnings.  His record stands at $22,760,520, with a 20-22-17 record from 169 starters.

“Not only did Wayne leave his mark on the Breeders' Cup and the sport of Thoroughbred racing with his innovative training approach, but his legacy continues through the many horsemen who came up under his astute guidance before finding tremendous success on their own. The dedication, discipline, passion, and insight with which he ran his operation will serve as an inspiration for many generations.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and entire team during this difficult time.”

Breeders' Cup Limited

“The Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association joins with our colleagues across the country and the entire racing community in mourning the passing of one of the most iconic and influential horsemen in our sport's history–D. Wayne Lukas.

“Much has already been said and written about his extraordinary life, but simply put, he was a transformational figure in the modern era of Thoroughbred racing. His competitive spirit, professionalism, and unmatched record of success made him a household name well beyond the racetrack–one of the few in our industry recognized across all of sports.

“Coach was a horseman of remarkable skill and unwavering integrity. He never courted controversy, once saying, “Just tell me the rules and I'll follow them.” That philosophy, paired with his drive and vision, helped shape generations of horses, horsemen, and fans.

“It is difficult to imagine a Triple Crown or Breeders' Cup without his presence.

“We extend our deepest condolences to his family and all those who had the privilege of learning from and working alongside him.”

Alan M. Foreman, Chairman/CEO Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association

“Our thoughts are with the Lukas family and the countless others that have been fortunate enough to know the Coach.

“It is hard to imagine Thoroughbred racing without the presence of D. Wayne Lukas. His passion for the sport was unparalleled, and his legacy will live on in the champions he trained and the numerous men and women he mentored along the way. His horsemanship reshaped the sport, and his impact will be felt for generations to come. If there's a Mount Rushmore of horse trainers, D. Wayne Lukas is on it.”

Tom Rooney, President and CEO of National Thoroughbred Racing Association

“1/ST joins the entire Thoroughbred community in mourning the loss of Hall of Fame legend D. Wayne Lukas. With a career that spanned seven decades and redefined excellence, Wayne  stood as a true icon of the sport.

“Throughout his storied career, Wayne's notable accomplishments included: 20 Breeders' Cup victories, including the 1999 Breeders' Cup Classic at Gulfstream Park with Cat Thief; 15 Triple Crown race winners, including seven Preakness Stakes triumphs; Four Santa Anita Derby wins at Santa Anita Park; Two Florida Derby wins at Gulfstream Park; In 2024, at 88 years old, he became the oldest trainer ever to win a Triple Crown race, securing the 149th Preakness Stakes with Seize the Grey.

“Beyond the victories and trophies, Mr. Lukas inspired generations with his relentless work ethic, sharp eye for talent, and unwavering belief in what was possible. His legacy lives on, not only in the horses he trained and the records he broke, but also in the many horsemen and women he mentored and elevated along the way.

1/ST Racing

“D. Wayne Lukas's vision and creativity transformed horse racing forever. He achieved success on a scale without precedent and developed a generation of trainers who continue to shape the future of the sport. New York's racing community and fans will miss Wayne, and we look forward to celebrating his life and legacy this summer at Saratoga Race Course.”

David O'Rourke, NYRA President & CEO

“We are heartbroken, but also tremendously grateful that horse racing had Wayne for as long as we did and were able to benefit from his horsemanship, trendsetting, charismatic way of creating new fans, as well as his friendship and mentorship for so many of us.”

Trainer Dale Romans, President Kentucky HBPA

“No one will match what D. Wayne Lukas did in horse racing. Others–and a few already have–may win more Triple Crown races, more Breeders' Cup races, train more champions, win more Grade I races or seasonal earnings. But no one is going to surpass The Coach's intangibles: mentoring, not only those who worked for him, but many others who didn't, providing wise counsel for generations of horsemen. It's unfathomable that anyone will ever match Wayne's “training tree” for assistants who went on to be nationally prominent horsemen, who in turn are producing assistants who go on to prominence. He made white bridles a fashion statement. He understood that mainstream media might not understand the intricacies of horse racing, but they would understand analogies to other sports and their star athletes. Wayne also did other things we all should try to replicate. He took the time and effort to interact with the fans, turning those who happened to be at the races into committed racing enthusiasts. Wayne is in a better place now, with his beloved son, Jeff. We can best honor his memory by trying to do a fraction of what The Coach contributed to horse racing beyond his horses on the racetrack.”

Eric Hamelback, National HBPA CEO

“Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, and the countless lives he touched. Though we've lost a legend, the sport he shaped remains richer for his presence, and his rich legacy will endure.

“The impact D. Wayne Lukas had on the sport of Thoroughbred racing is one that cannot be encapsulated by words alone. He revolutionized his craft more than any individual in modern times and is directly responsible for the ideologies carried by many of the top horsemen who dominate the industry today. His presence and wisdom transcended any space he entered, be it the racetrack, the winner's circle, or the public auction arena.

“He forever changed the industry and, most importantly, he indelibly changed lives. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who loved him.

Ocala Breeders' Sales Company

“D. Wayne Lukas was a legendary trainer, mentor, and a dear friend. His integrity, passion, and devotion to his horses inspired everyone around him. I'll always be grateful for the time we shared. The Kentucky Derby Museum mourns with his family and with the entire racing community, and we are honored to be forever connected to Wayne's legacy.”

Patrick Armstrong, Kentucky Derby Museum President & CEO

The post Industry Pays Tribute to D. Wayne Lukas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Racing Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, whose life included many different chapters—nearly all of which shaped today's racing—died June 28 in Louisville, Ky. He was 89.

The final group 1 of Australia's 2024-25 season went the way of Tashi as the Peter Snowden-trained mare swept to victory June 28 in the 1,400-meter (about seven-furlong) Tattersall's Tiara (G1) at Eagle Farm.

2024 Canadian Horse of the Year Patches O'Houlihan took an early lead under Sofia Vives and hung on to win despite bearing out badly in the lane of the $171,337 Highlander Stakes (G2T), one of five graded stakes June 28 at Woodbine.

An unexpected victory by Roll On Big Joe dethroned a four-race win streak for Booth and foiled Durante's attempt at a longshot victory at Churchill Downs.