Legendary horse racing trainer D. Wayne Lukas dies at 89

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Trainer D. Wayne Lukas surveys the scene outside his stable at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, on April 25, 2024 - Matt Stone, USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

D. Wayne Lukas, a Hall of Fame horse racing trainer, passed away at his home in Louisville at the age of 89 on Saturday night.

Lukas, who is originally from Wisconsin, won 15 Triple Crown races as a trainer, four of them coming at the Kentucky Derby (1988, 1995, 1996, 1999). Only Bob Baffert has more Triple Crown winners than Lukas. His 20 wins at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships are tied for the all-time mark. In 1995, Lukas’ horses — Thunder Gulch (Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes) and Timber Country (Preakness) — won all three Triple Crown races.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved husband, grandfather, and great-grandfather, D. Wayne Lukas, who left this world peacefully yesterday evening at the age of 89, surrounded by family,” the Lukas family wrote in a statement.

“Wayne devoted his life not only to horses but to the industry — developing generations of horsemen and horsewomen and growing the game by inviting unsuspecting fans into the winner’s circle. Whether he was boasting about a maiden 2-year-old as the next Kentucky Derby winner or offering quiet words of advice before a big race, Wayne brought heart, grace, and grit to every corner of the sport.”

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Battling a severe MRSA blood infection that only continued to worsen as of late, Lukas was hospitalized less than a week ago. As a result, he stepped away from horse racing before passing away on Saturday.

Legendary Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas passed away peacefully at his home in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday night. He was 89.

Rest in peace, Coach.

Statement from The Lukas Family: https://t.co/6TALvAlmUt pic.twitter.com/ArqpDk0RQK
— Churchill Downs PR (@DerbyMedia) June 29, 2025

Lukas, who was born Sept. 2, 1935, recorded nearly 5,000 documented career victories as a trainer, his horses earning more than $310 million across more than 30,000 starts.

He was especially dominant in the 1980s and 1990s when he was regarded as the face of thoroughbred horse racing. Lukas was the Eclipse Award recipient as champion trainer in 1985, 1986, 1987, and 1994 before being voted into the National Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in 1999. From 1994-1996, he won a record six straight Triple Crown races: 1994 Preakness Stakes (Tabasco Cat), the 1994 Belmont Stakes (Tabasco Cat), the 1995 Kentucky Derby (Thunder Gulch), the 1995 Preakness Stakes (Timber Country), the 1995 Belmont Stakes (Thunder Gulch), and the 1996 Kentucky Derby (Grindstone).

The horse racing world lost a legend this weekend.