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D. Wayne Lukas Dies at 89 as Stable Passes to Protégé

Longtime assistant Sebastian “Bas” Nicholl has taken charge of his horses under the formal succession plan

Overview

  • D. Wayne Lukas died at his Louisville home on June 28 after declining aggressive treatment for a severe MRSA infection and entering hospice care.
  • Under his succession plan, the operation’s horses were formally handed over to longtime assistant Sebastian “Bas” Nicholl at Churchill Downs.
  • Lukas’s transformative six-decade career yielded 4,967 thoroughbred victories, including 15 Triple Crown wins and 20 Breeders’ Cup triumphs.
  • Tributes have poured in from racing leaders such as the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and fellow trainers like Bob Baffert.
  • Known for pioneering coast-to-coast shipping and corporate-style stable management, Lukas mentored generations of horsemen and reshaped American racing.