D. Wayne Lucas Passes Away at 89

D. Wayne Lucas, a Hall of Fame trainer and a legendary figure in horse racing, has died at the age of 89. His family reported that he passed away on Saturday night at his home in Louisville, Kentucky.

Lucas had been hospitalized with a severe MRSA blood infection that led to significant damage to both his heart and digestive system, compounding existing health issues.

“Wayne dedicated his life not just to horses, but to the entire industry. He trained a whole new generation of jockeys and horsewomen, broadening the sport’s appeal by welcoming fans into the winner’s circle,” his family shared in a statement. “Whether he was boasting about a promising two-year-old or offering quiet guidance before a race, Wayne infused heart, resilience, and passion into the sport.”

Throughout his remarkable career, Lucas won four Triple Crown races, including the Kentucky Derby. He holds the record for the most wins in the Breeders’ Cup, with 20 victories, trailing only his friend Bob Baffert for overall Triple Crown successes.

“I think the key to this game is being able to read horses,” he once said. “Understanding what they need, and what they can’t handle. That’s the essence of it. Everyone can hire a good jockey or feedman, but reading the horse? That’s something else.”

A beloved figure at the racetrack, he was often referred to as “coach,” a nod to his earlier career coaching high school basketball before transitioning to horse racing. Remarkably, despite approaching his 90th birthday, he was still actively working with his horses, opting to drive his own truck rather than let an assistant do his daily tasks.

Born on September 2, 1935, in Wisconsin, Darnell Wayne Lukas initially made his mark in quarter horse racing, moving to Thoroughbreds in the late 1970s, and clinching his first Preakness victory with Codex in 1980.

Having amassed an impressive career total of 4,967 wins in thoroughbred racing, his horses earned over $310 million from more than 30,600 races.

“Today, we lost one of the greatest champions of Churchill Downs and a vital figure in thoroughbred racing over the last half-century,” stated Bill Calstangen, CEO of Churchill Downs. “We’ll miss his humor, his wisdom, and that unmatched ability to excite fans on the biggest days in our sport.”

Lucas experienced a career revival in the past decade and was optimistic about finding the right owners to invest in horses. He won the Preakness last year with Seize the Grey, illustrating his enduring passion for the sport.

“If you have passion, you’ll find a way to eliminate excuses,” Lucas remarked. “It’s all about the hard work—waking up early, going without food, and pushing through sleep deprivation. As long as you have that drive, the rest follows.”