D. Wayne Lukas Retires Amid Severe Illness

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, 89, has retired from horse racing after being hospitalized in Louisville with a severe MRSA blood infection that damaged his heart and digestive system and exacerbated preexisting conditions. Lukas declined aggressive treatment and chose to return home for hospice care to spend his remaining time with family. Over a six-decade career, Lukas amassed 4,967 wins, more than $301 million in earnings, and major victories including four Kentucky Derbies, seven Preakness Stakes, and four Belmont Stakes. He also trained a record 20 Breeders’ Cup winners and 26 Eclipse Award champions, earning induction into both the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse Halls of Fame. His horses have been transferred to longtime assistant Sebastian “Bas” Nicholl under a pre-arranged succession plan. The racing community, including Churchill Downs President Mike Anderson, has recognized Lukas’s transformative impact and legacy in the sport.