D. Wayne Lukas
Encyclopedia
Darrell Wayne Lukas is a former educator who became one of the most successful horse trainer
s in American Thoroughbred horse racing
history and a U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
inductee.
Lukas graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
with a master's degree
in education then taught high school where for nine years he was a head basketball coach.
Born and raised on a small farm, D. Wayne Lukas grew up with an interest in horses. He began training quarter horses
in California
in 1968 and after ten years of considerable achievement that saw him train 23 world champions, he switched to training thoroughbred race horses. The first trainer to earn more than $100 million in purse money, he has been the year's top money winner 14 times. Lukas got his big break in 1980 when he won the Preakness Stakes
on Codex
. His horses have won the Kentucky Derby
four times, the Preakness Stakes
on five occasions, and have claimed victory four times in the Belmont Stakes
, including winning all three of the Classics in 1995 with Thunder Gulch
(Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes) and Timber Country
(Preakness), making him the first trainer to sweep the Triple Crown Classic races with two different horses in a season. He is tied with Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons for the most Triple Crown race victories with 13.
Fillies
Lukas has trained have won the Kentucky Oaks
four times and in addition his 18 Breeders' Cup
wins is more than any other trainer. Three of his horses—Lady's Secret
in 1986, Criminal Type
in 1990 and Charismatic
in 1999—won the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year
.
D. Wayne Lukas has won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer
four times. In 1999, the same year his horse Charismatic
came within 2 lengths of the Triple Crown, he was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
.
In March 2007, Lukas was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame
, becoming the first person to enter both the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse halls of fame.
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
s in American Thoroughbred horse racing
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
history and a U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
inductee.
Lukas graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
with a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in education then taught high school where for nine years he was a head basketball coach.
Born and raised on a small farm, D. Wayne Lukas grew up with an interest in horses. He began training quarter horses
American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name came from its ability to outdistance other breeds of horses in races of a quarter mile or less; some individuals have been clocked at speeds up to 55 mph...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1968 and after ten years of considerable achievement that saw him train 23 world champions, he switched to training thoroughbred race horses. The first trainer to earn more than $100 million in purse money, he has been the year's top money winner 14 times. Lukas got his big break in 1980 when he won the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
on Codex
Codex
A codex is a book in the format used for modern books, with multiple quires or gatherings typically bound together and given a cover.Developed by the Romans from wooden writing tablets, its gradual replacement...
. His horses have won the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
four times, the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
on five occasions, and have claimed victory four times in the Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
, including winning all three of the Classics in 1995 with Thunder Gulch
Thunder Gulch
Thunder Gulch is a Champion American thoroughbred racehorse who left the starting gate at 25-1 odds in 1995 and went on to win the Kentucky Derby in 2:01.2 from post 16. He was ridden by jockey Gary Stevens. D...
(Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes) and Timber Country
Timber Country
Timber Country is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was the first horse to ever win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile then go on to win one of the U.S. Triple Crown races for three-year-olds....
(Preakness), making him the first trainer to sweep the Triple Crown Classic races with two different horses in a season. He is tied with Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons for the most Triple Crown race victories with 13.
Fillies
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
Lukas has trained have won the Kentucky Oaks
Kentucky Oaks
The Kentucky Oaks is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The race currently covers 1⅛ miles at Churchill Downs; the horses carry 121 pounds . The Kentucky Oaks is held on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby each year...
four times and in addition his 18 Breeders' Cup
Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Thoroughbred horse races, most but not all Grade I, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. The location...
wins is more than any other trainer. Three of his horses—Lady's Secret
Lady's Secret
Lady's Secret was an American Eclipse Award winning Thoroughbred racemare that was listed in the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century.-Breeding and background:...
in 1986, Criminal Type
Criminal Type
Criminal Type was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. He won two Eclipse Awards in 1990.-Background:A descendant of Nearco, he was bred at the famed Calumet Farm in Lexington, Kentucky and owned in partnership with Jurgen K. Arnemann...
in 1990 and Charismatic
Charismatic (horse)
Charismatic is a stallion Thoroughbred horse, and is known as one of the closest challengers to the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing since the last winner, Affirmed, accomplished the feat in 1978. He was trained by D. Wayne Lukas, and famously ridden in the Triple Crown races by Chris Antley...
in 1999—won the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year
Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year
The American Award for Horse of the Year is the highest honor given in American thoroughbred horse racing. It has been awarded since 1887 to the horse, irrespective of age, whose performance during the racing year is deemed the most outstanding....
.
D. Wayne Lukas has won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer
The Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor for trainers. Created in 1971, it is part of the Eclipse Awards program and is awarded annually.Its Canadian counterpart is the Sovereign Award for Outstanding Trainer....
four times. In 1999, the same year his horse Charismatic
Charismatic (horse)
Charismatic is a stallion Thoroughbred horse, and is known as one of the closest challengers to the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing since the last winner, Affirmed, accomplished the feat in 1978. He was trained by D. Wayne Lukas, and famously ridden in the Triple Crown races by Chris Antley...
came within 2 lengths of the Triple Crown, he was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
.
In March 2007, Lukas was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame
American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame
The American Quarter Horse Association has created a Hall of Fame in Amarillo, Texas to honor both people and horses who contributed to the growth of the American Quarter Horse. Any one may nominate either people or horses to be considered. Nominations from the membership are due by October 1. They...
, becoming the first person to enter both the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse halls of fame.