D. Wayne Lukas, an American horse trainer and a U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, who won twenty Breeders ‘ Cup races, passed away at 89, leaving his family and loved ones devastated.
The five-time Eclipse Award winner, D. Wayne Lukas, passed away peacefully at his home in Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday night, June 28, 2025.
According to reports, D. Wayne Lukas was treated for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a serious bacterial skin infection.
He was hospitalized last week as he battled a severe infection that worsened his condition. Lukas declined an aggressive treatment plan and returned home earlier this week to spend his remaining time with family, said his family in a statement.
Furthermore, he is survived by his devoted wife, Laurie Lynn Lukas, his grandchildren, Brady Wayne Lukas (Dani) and Kelly Lukas Roy (David), his great-grandchildrne, Walker Wayne Lukas, Quinn Palmer Lukas, Jonathan James Roy and Thomas David Roy; his sister, Dauna Lukas Moths; and his brother Lowell Lukas and the whole horseracing family.
D. Wayne Lukas was preceded in death by his only son, Jeffrey ‘Jeff’ Wayne Lukas, who passed away on March 23, 2016, in Atoka, Oklahoma, at the untimely age of 58 after suffering from a heart attack.
Jeff Wayne was an exceptional horse trainer and Lukas’s top assistant; however, his life changed when he suffered a tragic accident at the age of 36.
Jeff Lukas, Son Of The Late D. Wayne Lukas, Survived A Life-Threatening Accident Decades Before His Passing
In December 1993, Jeff Lukas, the only son of D. Wayne Lukas and his first wife, Janet Lukas, was involved in a devastating accident at Santa Anita Park.
Jeff was attempting to stop a high-strung 2-year-old colt named Tabosco Cat, who had broken loose during a routine equipment change.
The horse further charged at full speed and struck Jeff in the shedrow outside the Lukas barn, throwing him violently to the ground and kicking him in the head as he passed.
The tragic accident caused severe head trauma, including a skull fracture and brain hemorrhaging, leaving Jeff unconscious and in a coma for several weeks.
He was airlifted to Huntington Memorial Hospital, where doctors described his condition as ‘serious but stable,’ though initially it was considered life-threatening.
Although Jeff Lukas survived the tragic accident, it resulted in permanent brain damage, and he suffered significant memory loss, vision problems, personality changes, and other cognitive impairments.
Though he attempted to return to horse racing the following spring, it soon became evident that his injuries were too severe for him to continue working around horses safely.
Over the next decade, Jeff took on less physically demanding roles, but by 2003, he had fully stepped away from the sport.
In 2007, Jeff moved to Atoka, Oklahoma, where David Burrage, a longtime family friend and former general manager of Lukas Racing, offered him a job at a local bank owned by the Burrage family.
Similarly, D. Wayne Lukas provided financial support for his only son and bought him a house in Atoka, where Jeff lived quietly for the rest of his life.
Jeff Lukas was not just an amazing horse racer but also an outstanding basketball and football player.
He played both basketball and football at Logan High School, where he won several honorable titles, including All-State.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Instead of flowers, Lukas’ family requests that donations be made to the Oaklawn or Churchill Backside Chaplaincy or the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. These two causes held close to his heart.
- A private service will be held with immediate family, with a larger celebration of life to follow. D. Wayne Lukas’ family will provide details on a later date.
