Maryland racing colleagues remembered D. Wayne Lukas, the thoroughbred trainer whose horses captured six Preakness Stakes, as a “rock star” and the sport’s “greatest ambassador.”
Mr. Lukas, who died Saturday at 89, arrived in Baltimore annually in May for the Preakness and its Alibi Breakfast, when owners, trainers and others would gather the Thursday morning before the Saturday race to talk up their horses and whatever else was on their minds.
“We loved it when he had a horse for the Preakness. He would ship in early, and we all would wait patiently for his trailer to arrive with the horses,” said Georganne Hale, senior vice president of racing at The Maryland Jockey Club, Inc.
“He would get the horses settled in and proceed to sit in his chair in his regular corner of the Preakness barn, telling stories to everyone who was there to greet him,” Ms. Hale said. “He also was always the star of the Alibi Breakfast! The Maryland Jockey Club will surely miss him, the fans of Maryland will also miss him. He was our rock star.”
Mr. Lukas won the 1980 Preakness Stakes — his first — as Codex’s trainer. It was a controversial race when Codex, ridden by jockey Ángel Cordero Jr., came up against the favorite Genuine Risk. The Maryland Racing Commission voted 3-1 to let Codex’s victory stand. The decision was based upon photographs taken by Baltimore Sun photographer Weyman Swagger that showed no contact between the two horses.
Mr. Lukas went on to win again in 1985, with Tank’s Prospect; 1994, Tabasco Cat; 1995, Timber Country; 1999, Charismatic; 2013, Oxbow; and in 2024, Seize the Grey.
“He was a quick-witted man. He knew how to tweak a tale and get a laugh out of people,” said Phoebe Hayes, director of horsemen’s relations at The Maryland Jockey Club.
“He and [fellow trainer] Bob Baffert used to trade barbs at the Alibi Breakfast. It became the Wayne and Bob show. They were quite the pair, and interacting with Wayne was an enormous privilege.”
Asked to describe his personality, Ms. Hayes said, “Different parts came out according to his environment. He loved his family. He loved his horses. He kept active for so long because he just loved the game.
“Wayne held others to good standards without offending them,” she added, “The people who worked for him were so loyal.”
She said, “So many of our heroes and idols are fading. …Wayne was the epitome of approachable. And he was such a champion of the spirit of Preakness and Pimlico.”
“You can’t think of racing without thinking of Wayne,” said Karin De Francis, former part-owner of Pimlico and Laurel. “He was the sport’s greatest ambassador. You knew who D. Wayne Lukas was, whether you followed racing or not. He personified class to all.”
“Wayne was always quick to compliment Pimlico/Preakness in the media, often insisting our team took the best care of the horsemen and fans. That was huge, especially on some pretty challenging days,” Ms. De Francis said.
She said his rivalry with fellow trainer Bob Baffert “riveted us all; like Borg-McEnroe, Ali-Frazier and Hunt-Lauda.”
She recalled what Mr. Lukas once said, “Your attitude is a choice, and it is the most important decision you make every day. You make it early and make it the right choice.”
Have a news tip? Contact Jacques Kelly at jacques.kelly@baltsun.com and 410-332-6570.
