Hall of Famer trained seven Preakness winners

LAUREL, MD – The Maryland Jockey Club (TMJC) community is deeply saddened to learn of the death of legendary Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who passed away Sunday at age 89.

Lukas retired from training earlier in the month after suffering from a severe infection. He was hospitalized last week but declined an aggressive treatment plan and returned home to spend his last days with loved ones.

“The Maryland Jockey Club mourns the loss of legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas, a true titan of Thoroughbred racing,” said Bill Knauf, President and General Manager of TMJC. “His unmatched accomplishments, unwavering dedication, and enduring influence on the sport have left an indelible mark on racing history. With seven (7) wins in the Preakness Stakes, D. Wayne was not only a champion on the track but a mentor and inspiration to generations of horsemen and women. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the entire racing community. His legacy will forever be part of Maryland Racing and the Preakness Stakes.”

Inducted to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1999, Lukas won four editions of the Kentucky Derby as well as four Belmont Stakes, but it was at Pimlico where Lukas’s Triple Crown star shone brightest.

He saddled seven Preakness winners, most recently last year with Seize the Gray. The Lukas-trained American Promise finished eighth in the 2025 Preakness. Lukas also won the Pimlico Special twice and the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes four times.

“I’ve always had a lot of admiration for Wayne since I was 17 years old,” Bob Baffert said at last month’s Preakness Alibi Breakfast, where Lukas held court by roasting his fellow trainers. “The first time I saw him train horses [was] in Arizona, and I wanted to be Wayne.”

According to Equibase statistics, Lukas won 4,953 races. His horses earned $300,548,290. Lukas-trained runners captured 20 Breeders’ Cup races, and he took home four Eclipse Awards as champion trainer.