Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas has died at the age of 89, the Lukas family announced Sunday in a statement issued by Churchill Downs.
Here is a list of many of his top horses, top triumphs, and top awards/honors as one of the most accomplished trainers in the history of thoroughbred racing.
Four-time Kentucky Derby winner: Winning Colors (1988), Thunder Gulch (1995), Grindstone (1996), Charismatic (1999)
Seven-time Preakness Stakes winner: Codex (1980), Tank’s Prospect (1985), Tabasco Cat (1994), Timber Country (1995), Charismatic (1999), Oxbow (2013), Seize the Grey (2024)
Four-time Belmont Stakes winner: Tabasco Cat (1994), Thunder Gulch (1995), Editor’s Note (1996), Commendable (2000)
Won a record six consecutive Triple Crown races: 1994 Preakness (Tabasco Cat), ’94 Belmont (Tabasco Cat), ’95 Kentucky Derby (Thunder Gulch), ’95 Preakness (Timber Country), ’95 Belmont (Thunder Gulch), ’96 Kentucky Derby (Grindstone). He made it 7-of-8 Triple Crown classics when Editor’s Note won the 1996 Belmont
Five-time Kentucky Oaks winner: Brush With Pride (1982), Lucky Lucky Lucky(1984), Open Mind (1989), Seaside Attraction (1990), Secret Oath (2022)
Three-time Horse of the Year trainer: Lady’s Secret (1986), Criminal Type (1990), Charismatic (1999)
Trainer of a record 26 Eclipse Award champions: Landaluce (1982 2-year-old filly), Althea (1983 2-year-old filly), Life’s Magic (1984 3-year-old filly), Life’s Magic (1985 older female), Family Style (1985 2-year-old filly), Lady’s Secret (1986 Horse of the Year, older female), Capote (1986 2-year-old male), North Sider (1987 older female), Sacahuista (1987 3-year-old filly), Winning Colors (1988 3-year-old filly), Open Mind (1988 2-year-old filly), Gulch (1988 sprinter), Steinlen (1989 turf male), Open Mind (1989 3-year-old filly), Criminal Type (1990 Horse of the Year, older male), Timber Country (1994 2-year-old male), Flanders (1994 2-year-old filly), Thunder Gulch (1995 3-year-old male), Serena’s Song (1995 3-year-old filly), Golden Attraction (1995 2-year-old filly), Boston Harbor (1996 2-year-old male), Charismatic (1999 Horse of the Year, 3-year-old male), Surfside (2000 3-year-old filly), Orientate (2002 sprinter), Azeri (2004 older female), Folklore (2005 2-year-old filly), Will Take Charge (2013 3-year-old male) and Take Charge Brandi (2014 2-year-old filly)
Breeders’ Cup Wins (20)
Breeders’ Cup Classic (1): Cat Thief (1999)
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (5): Capote (1986), Success Express (1987), Is It True (1988), Timber Country (1994), Boston Harbor (1996)
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (6): Twilight Ridge (1985), Open Mind (1988), Flanders (1994), Cash Run (1999), Folklore (2005), Take Charge Brandi (2014)
Breeders’ Cup Distaff (4): Life’s Magic (1985), Lady’s Secret (1986), Sacahuista (1987) and Spain (2000)
Breeders’ Cup Sprint (2): Gulch (1988), Orientate (2002)
Breeders’ Cup Mile (1): Steinlen (1989)
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint (1): Hightail (2012)
Enshrined in horse racing’s Hall of Fame in 1999
Enshrined in American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2017
Fourteen-time national leader in money-won (1983-92, ’94-97)
Four-time Eclipse Award winner for outstanding trainer: 1985-87, ’94
John W. Galbreath Award (1998, for outstanding entrepreneurship in the equine industry); Big Sport of Turfdom Award (1999); United Thoroughbred Trainers of America’s Trainer of the Year Award (1999)
(Source: Churchill Downs)
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