D. Wayne Lukas | Keeneland (2025)

Keeneland’s all-time leading trainer by titles (16). His 296 wins here are third behind Bill Mott (307) and Rusty Arnold (307). His 51 stakes wins are third behind Todd Pletcher (72) and Bill Mott (52).

First win here 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 1Spinster (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.

Received the 2013Eclipse Awardof Merit.

Inducted into theRacing Hall of Famein 1999 and the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in2007, becoming the only person to be a member of both institutions.

Four-timeEclipse Awardwinner 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 $300 million with 4,952 wins through May 13, 2025. Earnings are sixth behind Todd Pletcher, Steve Asmussen,Bob Baffert, Bill Mott and Chad Brown. Lukas' win total is ninth among all North American trainers.

Record26 champions:Althea, Azeri, Boston Harbor, Capote, 1999 Horse of theYear Charismatic, 1990 Horse of the Year Criminal Type, Family Style, Flanders, Folklore, GoldenAttraction, 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, TimberCountry, Will Take Chargeand Winning Colors.

Record 15 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; Seize the Grey, 2024; 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 ItTrue, 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.

Wayne grew up on a 10-acre farm in Wisconsin and gained exposure to horse racing at theAntigo County Fairgrounds, where he raced his pony. After graduating from the University ofWisconsin with a master’s degree in education, he coached high school basketball and served as anassistant coach at his alma mater. During the summers, he began racing horses at Park Jefferson inSouth 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.