Hall of Fame horse trainer D. Wayne Lukas, a towering figure in American racing and a longtime presence at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs, died Saturday at his home in Louisville, Kentucky. He was 89.
Lukas had recently been hospitalized with a severe MRSA infection that worsened chronic health conditions, according to his family.
Known as “Coach” for his early years as a basketball coach and his leadership in the sport, Lukas was more than a winter regular at Oaklawn he was a transformative figure. He twice led the trainer standings at the track, in 1987 and 2011, and made it his winter base beginning in 2010.
Oaklawn paid tribute to Lukas in a statement Sunday, saying he “changed the game with vision, class, and an unshakable belief in greatness,” and credited him with building a legacy that lives on in trainers, horses, and fans.
Nationally, Lukas won 15 Triple Crown races, including four Kentucky Derbies, and tied the record with 20 Breeders’ Cup victories. His career included nearly 5,000 wins and more than $310 million in earnings.
Even into his late 80s, Lukas remained hands-on, saddling last year’s Preakness winner, Seize the Grey, for his final Triple Crown triumph.
Though his career was defined by bold decisions and big-race wins, his influence at Oaklawn and in Arkansas racing circles may be his most lasting mark. As Oaklawn said, “He built people. We tip our hats to the man who made history and made us all believe in what’s possible.”
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