Overview

• Lukas died at his Louisville home on June 28 after forgoing aggressive treatment for a serious MRSA infection.
• All horses in his care have been formally moved to longtime assistant Sebastian “Bas” Nicholl under the Lukas Enterprises succession plan.
• Across a six-decade career, he amassed 4,967 thoroughbred victories, won 15 U.S. Triple Crown races and claimed 20 Breeders’ Cup titles.
• Churchill Downs, Breeders’ Cup Limited and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association have issued tributes highlighting his transformative impact and mentorship.
• He pioneered a corporate-style training operation with national shipping strategies that reshaped American racing and spawned generations of leading trainers.