Hall of Fame Horse Trainer D. Wayne Lucas is seriously ill and retired immediately.
The Lucas family issued a statement on Sunday stating that the 89 -year -old was admitted to the hospital with a serious infection and refused to go through the “aggressive treatment plan” of doctors at Louisville, Q.
USA Today said on Monday that Lucas has returned to his home and is under Dharamshala care to spend the remaining days with his wife, Laurie and his extended family.
“Wayne is one of the greatest contestants and is the most important figure in history,” said Mike Anderson, president of Churchill Downs Racetrack. “He crossed the game of horse racing and took the industry to new levels. Permanent influence of his character and knowledge – from their intense cavalry to their unmatched meditation – will really be remembered. The vastness of this news is immense, and our prayers are with their families and friends around the world during this difficult time.”
Horses trained by Lucas are now under the guidance of Sebastian “Base” Nicole through the succession scheme of Lucas Enterprises Inc. Nicole has long been helpful for Lucas.
Lucas-eminent horses won 15 triple crown races, which was second only after 17 of Bob Befurt. His horses won the 20 Breeders Cup and won four times as the top trainer in the country.
Lucas was vested in 1999 at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame at NY, NY in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
After college, he started his career as a high school teacher and basketball coach in Wisconsin, and took a summer job to work with quarter horses in South Dakota in 1968. Four years later, he moved to California to become a full -time instructor of Quarter Horse, and at the age of 42 in 1977, he won a completely in Santa Anita.
According to Churchill Down data, as a thrubread trainer, he won 4,967 and his horses grossed over $ 301 million over 30,607.
The final victory of his career was when the 4 -year -old Colt Tour Player won the Churchill Down on 12 June. His last triple crown win was at The Stax in 2024 with Gray the Gray.
Other triple crown winners trained by Lucas include thensco Cat (1994), Thunder Gul (1995) and Karismai (1999). He won six consecutive triple crown races, began with the 1994 Preakness Stakes and was running through the 1996 Kentaki Derby.
Nicole said he would take the influence of Lucas with him.
Nicole said, “Wayne created a legacy, which will never be eaten.” “Every decision I make, every horse I sad, I will hear his voice behind my mind. It’s not about filling his shoes – no one can do – it’s all about honoring everything he has created.”
While Horse Racing gave success to Lucas at the highest level, it also gave him its biggest tragedy.
In December 1993, his only son, Jeff, Santa was in Anita when CAT became loose from his handlers. When 36 -year -old Jeff Lucas tried to stop her, thesco cat slammed her, leaving the young Lucas with a serious brain injury. He returned to work for his father in the next summer, but only for a short time.
Jeff Lucas died on March 24, 2016 at the age of 58.
-Bield level media
