D. Wayne Lukas (September 2, 1935 – June 28, 2025) reshaped American horse racing—and did so with legendary flair. A Hall of Famer in both Thoroughbred (1999) and Quarter Horse (2007) racing, Lukas began his career training Quarter Horses in Norwalk, Ohio, where he forged lifelong friendships—including with Roger Ruetenik, father of the Soft Ride founders. Between 1968 and 1978, Lukas trained 23 world champion Quarter Horses before transitioning to Thoroughbred racing.
Lukas’ records speak volumes: nearly 5,000 wins, over $300 million in purse earnings, and a remarkable 15 Triple Crown victories—four Kentucky Derbies, seven Preaknesses, and four Belmonts. In 1995, he became the first trainer ever to sweep the Triple Crown races in one year with two different horses—Thunder Gulch and Timber Country. He also tied the record with 20 Breeders’ Cup wins and earned four Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Trainer.
His early work with Roger Ruetenik led to a lasting partnership. After Roger helped launch the All American Quarter Horse Congress and AQHA World Show, Lukas—then training Thoroughbreds—asked him to help build a racing farm in Del Mar, California, for his new client, Gene Klein. Meanwhile, Betty Ruetenik, Roger’s wife, helped run D. Wayne’s racing office in Los Angeles. Roger also helped develop the famed Del Rey training stable, where future champions like Lady’s Secret and other stakes winners were raised.
Quarter Horse racing shaped Lukas’ meticulous, education-based approach—he was once a schoolteacher and basketball coach—which influenced an entire generation of horsemen. Later, as Roger Ruetenik worked with his sons and grandchildren to develop Soft Ride, Lukas became an early supporter, using Soft Ride boots to protect his horses during transport to races nationwide.
D. Wayne Lukas wasn’t just a master of the track—he was a transformational leader, a devoted mentor, and a resilient family man. His legacy gallops on in every stable he built and every life he inspired.
