McCraken, who went from highly thought of to an afterthought after losses in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) and Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), looks to get his confidence back in the Matt Winn Stakes.
Thanks in part to the lessons instilled by his former boss, trainer Todd Pletcher is nothing if not his own man now, with the enviable problem of constantly trying to kick his own bar of success to ever higher levels.
D. Wayne Lukas assured the connections of Gunnevera they made the right call in making plans to send the chestnut colt to Baltimore following his seventh-place finish in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
Local Hero and Uncontested, one-time Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) hopefuls, face a new challenge cutting back to one-turn for the May 6 Pat Day Mile Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas announced April 30 that his personal Thoroughbred racing collection from his career will go to the Kentucky Derby Museum as part of its permanent collection.
Churchill Downs will give 200 people a low-cost pathway to the excitement of Thoroughbred racehorse ownership with the 2017 Churchill Downs Racing Club.
The industry could use a few more guys like Bob Lewis
They were there to roast their mentor, but by the end of the night April 17 at the Keeneland sales pavilion, the seven prominent trainers who cut their teeth under legendary D. Wayne Lukas ended up toasting their former boss.
Steve Haskin shares memories of covering the Kentucky Derby
The memories of the coppery chestnut colt, are still fresh nearly two decades on. His arc—a scant two months that spring and summer—was brief, but it was oh so brilliant.
Stonestreet Stables' Terra Promessa, winner of Oaklawn's Jan. 14 Pippin Stakes, figures to dictate the tempo again in the Feb. 18 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) in Hot Springs.
Of the eight entered for the Smarty Jones, which offers 17 points in the Road to the Kentucky Derby standings, Warrior's Club is the lone stakes winner.
It seems as if Charismatic has been gone for ages, but leave it to Michael Blowen to arrange for his return to the United States.
On a cold day in early December D. Wayne Lukas made the 1 1/2-hour trip from Louisville, Ky. to Georgetown to catch up with the son of Summer Squall that he'd saddled to a surprise victory in the 1999 Kentucky Derby (gr. I).
Eleven challengers will provide a litmus test on the quality of undefeated McCraken as a dozen juveniles have passed the entry box for the 1 1/16 miles Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II).
Son of Warrior's Reward took the inaugural Spendthrift Stallion Stakes in a front-running fashion Oct. 30 at Churchill Downs
Ever So Clever, with a 93 Equibase Speed Figure in her July 1 debut, holds the edge with an outside post draw for the Aug. 13 Adirondack Stakes (gr. II) for juvenile fillies at Saratoga.
Lady's Secret, an eventual Horse of the Year and Hall of Fame inductee, strung together multiple stakes wins at the highest level. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas described her as an overachiever that "you never got to the bottom of."
In two days Churchill Downs Inc. sold out all 200 available memberships for its first racing club.
CDI will offer up to 200 shares in a racehorse at $500 per share. Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas will select and train the club's horse.
Family and friends will say their good-byes to Jeff Lukas during a funeral service March 30 at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Atoka, Okla.
So, how do you deal with a horse who showed great promise, but nearly killed your son, changing his life forever; a horse who was now being branded as a rogue?
Lukas was the only son of Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
Thirteen are probable for Oaklawn race, including Hopeful (gr. I) winner Ralis and Southwest (gr. III) victor Suddenbreakingnews.
A daughter of Caro out of All Rainbows, Winning Colors had been purchased as a yearling for $575,000, with leading trainer D. Wayne Lukas buying her on behalf of his client Eugene Klein.
Timber Country, the champion 2-year-old male of 1994 and 1995 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner who went on to a successful stallion career in Japan, died Feb. 24 at Lex Stud in Hokkaido at age 24.
Few people in the sport have ever been as genuinely beloved and admired as Bob and Beverly Lewis.
Gulch, champion sprinter of 1988, was euthanized the morning of Jan. 17 because of complications of cancer at Old Friends retirement facility near Georgetown, Ky
Exchange Rate, who has stood at Three Chimneys Farm for the last nine years and has sired 68 stakes winners, was euthanized Jan. 11.
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, during a recent trip to Texas A&M University in College Station, was recognized not only for his success on the racetrack but also for his generosity in sharing a piece of racing history.
No decision yet on whether the 2014 champion will be sold at Keeneland November.
D. Wayne Lukas has been hospitalized near Philadelphia, the Hall of Famer trainer's assistant, Tim Austin, said Sept. 20.
Take Charge Brandi will cut back in distance, but not in class, when last year's champion 2-year-old filly starts for the first time since January in the $500,000 Longines Test Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 8 at Saratoga Race Course.
If Take Charge Brandi aces her comeback in the Aug. 8 Test Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga against her own division, a run against the boys could be possible in the Aug. 29 Travers Stakes (gr. I), said owner Willis Horton.
Fresh off a win in the $500,000 Ohio Derby, Calumet Farm's Mr. Z has been selected as the morning-line favorite for the $500,000-added Indiana Derby (gr. II) July 18 at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino.
In this continuing series about top horses sired by popular sires, trainers share their views on Exchange Rate's offspring.
Racing Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas will be honored by Churchill Downs with the naming of a stakes race in his honor at its September meet that will feature eight stakes events with total purses of $1.025 million.
The Malibu Moon colt, who had not won a race since his debut maiden victory 14 starts back, had just enough to give in the 1 1/16-mile test, edging out Tencendur and Divining Rod for the victory June 20 at Thistledown.
Nine 3-year-olds were entered for the 1 1/16-mile test, with Illinois Derby (gr. III) winner Wiskey Ticket favored at 3-1 on the morning line and Preakness (gr. I) third-place finisher Divining Rod second choice at 7-2.
As last year's 2-year-old champion male American Pharoah prepares to bid for the Triple Crown June 6 at Belmont Park, the 2-year-old champion filly of 2014 is nearly ready to breeze again.
Mr. Z is the troubled one of the bunch. He's the kid who is found throwing baseballs through windows instead of pitching toward home plate, whose focus often seems to wander, the wild-card player.
Ron Mitchell and Steve Haskin discuss who exited the Kentucky Derby best and which new shooters may preform well in the Preakness Stakes.
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas was headed to Maryland to race some horses the weekend of May 15-16 and, though he didn't officially know the status of Mr. Z for Preakness, he thought the colt could use a change of scenery.
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas discusses why he wants Mr. Z to be entered in the Preakness Stakes.
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas discusses why he wants Mr. Z to be entered in the Preakness Stakes.
D. Wayne Lukas-trained Mr. Z, getting a bath at Pimlico Race Course Wednesday, May 13.
D. Wayne Lukas-trained Mr. Z, getting a bath at Pimlico Race Course Wednesday, May 13.
Whether Zayat Stables' Mr. Z runs in the May 16 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) remains up in the air, with Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas lobbying for the colt to contest the race at Pimlico Race Course.
The top three finishers from Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) were doing fine the morning of May 4 at Churchill Downs.
More stories, quips, and insights from this year's Kentucky Derby Trainers' Dinner held April 28 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Louisville.
