Trainer Bios

D. Wayne Lukas

Born: Sept. 2, 1935, in Antigo, Wisconsin

Record at Keeneland

Total Wins: 296

Stakes Wins: 51

Career Firsts

First Grade 1 Win: 1980 Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita with Codex

First Stakes Win: 1974 Foothill (2nd div.) at Pomona with Harbor Hauler

First Graded Stakes Win: 1978 American (G2) at Hollywood Park with Effervescing

First Career Win: (Thoroughbreds) Sept. 2, 1974, at Del Mar with Harbor Hauler

Starters in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes

Year	Horse	Finish
2024	Seize the Grey	7th
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 (306). His 51 stakes wins are third behind Todd Pletcher (72) 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 $295 million with 4,929 wins through May 12, 2024. 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.