Legendary coach retires as severe sickness ‘worsens’ with horses given to Brit
Legendary horse racing trainer D. Wayne Lukas has been rushed to hospital with a ‘worsening’ serious illness and has seen his horses moved from his stable
Legendary horse trainer D. Wayne Lukas has been rushed to hospital with a ‘worsening’ serious illness.
The iconic US handler has announced his retirement after a career spanning six decades, due to deteriorating health.
Lukas, 89, has trained nearly 5,000 winners, including 15 in Triple Crown races, four of which were Kentucky Derby victors, and a record-breaking 20 Breeders’ Cup champions. He has also topped the US trainers’ rankings by prize-money won on 14 occasions.
A statement revealed that Lukas is currently hospitalised in Louisville, Kentucky, suffering from a severe and escalating infection. He has chosen not to pursue an aggressive treatment plan and will soon return home to spend his remaining time with his family.
In line with a pre-arranged succession plan, long-time assistant Sebastian ‘Bas’ Nicholl, a former British Army captain who served in the first Gulf War, will assume the training licence.
Lukas, who was inducted into the US racing’s Hall of Fame in 1999, has trained 26 Eclipse Award champions, including three that were named Horse of the Year.
Mike Anderson, President of Churchill Downs Racetrack, paid tribute to Lukas, saying: “Wayne is one of the greatest competitors and most important figures in Thoroughbred racing history.
“He transcended the sport of horse racing and took the industry to new heights. The lasting impact of his character and wisdom – from his acute horsemanship to his unmatched attention to detail – will be truly missed.
“The enormity of this news is immense, and our prayers are with his family and friends around the world during this difficult time.”
Lukas notched up an impressive 4,967 wins, with his horses raking in over $301 million from 30,607 starts, which included 1,105 stakes victories, 637 of them graded.
His last triumph was on June 12 at Churchill Downs with Tour Player, a horse owned by the spouse of fellow trainer Bob Baffert.
Nicholl, who left the army in 1995 and worked in Ireland for Edward O’Grady before joining Lukas’s team in 2002, paid tribute to the legendary trainer.
“Wayne built a legacy that will never be matched,” Nicholl remarked. “Every decision I make, every horse I saddle, I’ll hear his voice in the back of my mind. This isn’t about filling his shoes – no one can – it’s about honoring everything that he’s built.”
