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D. Wayne Lukas
Record at Keeneland
Career Firsts
Starters in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes
|
Year |
Horse |
Finish |
|
2023 |
Major Blue |
10th |
|
2019 |
Market King |
11th |
|
2018 |
Sporting Chance |
3rd |
|
2016 |
Goats Town |
6th |
|
2013 |
Channel Isle |
8th |
|
2008 |
Stone Bird |
12th |
|
2005 |
Consolidator |
5th |
|
2003 |
Ten Cents a Shine |
8th |
|
2000 |
High Yield |
Won |
|
1999 |
Cat Thief |
2nd |
|
1998 |
Cape Town |
3rd |
|
1997 |
Wrightswood |
6th |
|
1996 |
Editor’s Note |
3rd |
|
1995 |
Thunder Gulch |
4th |
|
1994 |
Chimes Band |
5th |
|
1992 |
Dance Floor |
4th |
|
1990 |
Land Rush |
2nd |
|
1988 |
Cougarized |
4th |
|
1987 |
War |
Won |
|
1986 |
Big Play |
9th |
|
1983 |
Marfa |
4th |
At Keeneland
Keeneland’s all-time leading trainer by titles (16). His 296 wins here are second to Bill Mott (302). His 51 stakes wins are third behind Todd Pletcher (70) and Bill Mott (52).
First Keeneland win came during the 1980 Fall Meet.
First Keeneland stakes win was the 1982 Ashland (G2) with Blush With Pride.
Two-time winner of the Grade 1 Blue Grass (War in 1987 and High Yield in 2000) and Grade 1 Spinster (Sacahuista in 1987 and Azeri in 2004); six-time winner of the Alcibiades and Breeders’ Futurity.
Latest stakes win was the 2018 Commonwealth (G3) with Warrior's Club.
Career
Received the 2013 Eclipse Award of Merit.
Inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1999 and the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2007, becoming the only person to be a member of both institutions.
Four-time Eclipse Award winner as outstanding trainer (1985-1987 and 1994).
North America’s leading trainer by earnings for 14 years (1983-1992, 1994-1997).
North American career earnings exceed $292 million with 4,912 wins through Nov. 28, 2023. Earnings are fifth behind Todd Pletcher, Steve Asmussen, Bob Baffert and Bill Mott. Lukas' win total is ninth among all North American trainers.
Record 26 champions: Althea, Azeri, Boston Harbor, Capote, 1999 Horse of the Year Charismatic, 1990 Horse of the Year Criminal Type, Family Style, Flanders, Folklore, Golden Attraction, Gulch, 1986 Horse of the Year Lady’s Secret, Landaluce, Life’s Magic, North Sider, Open Mind, Orientate, Sacahuista, Serena’s Song, Steinlen (GB), Surfside, Take Charge Brandi, Thunder Gulch, Timber Country, Will Take Charge and Winning Colors.
Record 14 Triple Crown wins: Kentucky Derby (Winning Colors, 1988; Thunder Gulch, 1995; Grindstone, 1996; Charismatic, 1999); Preakness (Codex, 1980; Tank's Prospect, 1985; Tabasco Cat, 1994; Timber Country, 1995; Charismatic, 1999: Oxbow, 2013; Belmont (Tabasco Cat, 1994; Thunder Gulch, 1995, Editor's Note, 1996; Commendable, 2000)..
Record 20 Breeders’ Cup wins: Juvenile (Capote, 1986; Success Express, 1987; Is It True, 1988; Timber Country, 1994; Boston Harbor, 1996); Juvenile Fillies (Twilight Ridge, 1985; Open Mind, 1988; Flanders, 1994; Cash Run, 1999; Folklore, 2005; Take Charge Brandi, 2014); Juvenile Sprint (Hightail, 2012); Sprint (Gulch, 1988; Orientate, 2002); Ladies’ Classic (Life’s Magic, 1985; Lady’s Secret, 1986; Sacahuista, 1987; Spain, 2000); Mile (Steinlen [GB], 1989); Classic (Cat Thief, 1999).
Click here for his Equibase record.
Background
Wayne grew up on a 10-acre farm in Wisconsin and gained exposure to horse racing at the Antigo County Fairgrounds, where he raced his pony. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin with a master’s degree in education, he coached high school basketball and served as an assistant coach at his alma mater. During the summers, he began racing horses at Park Jefferson in South Dakota.
After moving to California in 1972, he made a name for himself as a trainer of American Quarter Horses, conditioning 23 world champions and dominating the sport as he later would Thoroughbred racing.
In 2015, Wayne was at Keeneland to watch his champion Take Charge Brandi sell for $6 million at Keeneland's November Breeding Stock Sale. The amount made Take Charge Brandi the most expensive horse sold at public auction anywhere in the world during the year.