D. Wayne Lukas death: Horse racing pays tribute to Hall of Fame trainer

FILE - Trainer D Wayne Lukas sits atop his horse as he watches morning workouts against the backdrop of a large tent set up in the infield before sunrise at Churchill Downs in Louisville Ky April AP Photo Ed Reinke file AP Ed Reinke FILE - Trainer D Wayne Lukas sits atop his horse as he watches morning workouts against the backdrop of a large tent set up in the infield before sunrise at Churchill Downs in Louisville Ky April AP Photo Ed Reinke file AP Ed Reinke Notable reaction to the death of thoroughbred trainer D Wayne Lukas Wayne was a challenge changer transforming horse racing for the better He made it so the horse s bloodlines were more major than the owner s He created a system of flying his horses coast to coast establishing a presence at every major racetrack in America And Wayne didn t just show up He dominated He won so much he became known as D Wayne off the plane He developed the blueprint the rest of us still follow He was a true visionary Bob Baffert two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer on X To borrow from the great writer Joe Hirsch There once was a trainer named D Wayne Lukas but only once Larry Collmus race caller for NBC s Triple Crown coverage via X Meager people have left as profound a mark on the sport of horse racing as D Wayne Lukas Over nearly five decades he shaped champions on the track and in the breeding shed and mentored generations of horsemen and horsewomen who carry his legacy forward Spendthrift Farm via X D Wayne Lukas vision and creativity transformed horse racing forever He achieved success on a scale without precedent and developed a generation of trainers who continue to shape the future of the sport New York s racing group and fans will miss Wayne and we look forward to celebrating his life and legacy this summer at Saratoga Race Curriculum Dave O Rourke New York Racing Association president and CEO in a comment We are heartbroken but also are tremendously grateful that horse racing had Wayne for as long as we did and were able to benefit from his horsemanship trendsetting charismatic way of creating new fans as well as his friendship and mentorship for so countless of us Dale Romans trainer and president of the Kentucky Horsemen s Benevolent Protective Association in a comment Growing up D Wayne Lukas was a towering figure He owned the Triple Crown series and his near-miss with Charismatic remains a cherished memory Cheering him on as the years passed and he refused to quit and seemed instead to defy time has been a happiness RIP to a true legend Steve Kornacki NBC Sports contributor via X His impact at Keeneland where he was a presence for nearly years - is not likely to be seen again Since buying his first horse here in he influenced yearling sales through his emphasis on conformation and body type while affecting the way horses were bred and prepped to produce yearlings that would appeal to him Shannon Arvin president and CEO of Keeneland Race Subject in a report It is hard to imagine Thoroughbred racing without the presence of D Wayne Lukas His passion for the sport was unparalleled and his legacy will live on in the Champions he trained and the numerous men and women he mentored along the way His horsemanship reshaped the sport and his impact will be felt for generations to come If there s a Mount Rushmore of horse trainers D Wayne Lukas is on it National Thoroughbred Racing Association in a report Not only did Wayne leave his mark on the Breeders Cup and the sport of Thoroughbred racing with his innovative training approach but his legacy continues through the a large number of horsemen who came up under his astute guidance before finding tremendous success on their own The dedication discipline passion and insight with which he ran his operation will serve as an inspiration for countless generations Breeders Cup Ltd via X A truly transformational figure it is fitting that Wayne s fulltime foray into Thoroughbred racing began in with a Santa Anita Park winner named Current Concept as his effective training concept set a class for generations of horsemen and women who sprouted from the Lukas training tree His on-track success was such that it was easy to overlook his outstanding horsemanship that we were lucky to often witness back at his barn away from the spotlight Santa Anita Park in a comment AP horse racing https apnews com hub horse-racing Source