Letter to the Editor: My Unforgettable Mentorship with D. Wayne Lukas

[Wandering Eyes]

I had the profound privilege of serving as an assistant trainer at a barn that holds immense historical significance in horse racing. Every day, I was honored to work alongside a legend, D. Wayne Lukas, whose accomplishments are forever etched in the record books of the sport.

As time moved on, even for a tremendous man like D. Wayne, who had reached his eighties, the graded stakes winners didn't come as easily as they did in his most celebrated days. Yet, his confidence remained as unwavering as ever.

My journey began in a small town in Louisiana, where my love and passion for horse racing blossomed from a young age. While I never won the elite races that define the pinnacle of the sport, I proudly reached the winner's circle both as a jockey and a trainer.

One day, at Churchill Downs, I decided to take a chance and knock on D. Wayne Lukas's door. It's true what they say: when one door closes, another opens. D. Wayne Lukas not only offered me a job but appointed me as an assistant trainer. This incredible opportunity unfolded at the grandest meets of the year, right there in his barn at Saratoga Racecourse.

Working with D. Wayne Lukas provided me with an unparalleled education, one that extended far beyond my existing knowledge of horses. He taught me the intricate business aspects of the industry, the essence of leadership, and the correct way to conduct myself professionally. I knew horses, but business was new to me. Under his guidance, I learned how to run an elite organization, a true game-changer in our industry–Lukas Enterprises Inc.

This journey brought unexpected experiences. Suddenly, I was saddling graded stakes horses–horses of a caliber I'd rarely encountered at the tracks I came from. Standing among the sport's best, I felt a new level of recognition. Walking through town, people knew my name, Keith Austin, on the strength of the reputation D. Wayne Lukas had meticulously built. He was not just a Hall of Famer, but, more importantly, a true gentleman.

After the races settled and the dust cleared, back in that very barn, D. Wayne and I would often share conversations in his office. He'd even come to sit on the stairs, the same stairs that helped a man in his eighties mount his pony. We'd sit there for hours, talking about business, sports, and life. I'd listen to his stories, we'd tell jokes, and best of all, we'd laugh until our stomachs ached.

I witnessed an individual with an incredibly strong will to win, but I also watched a man gracefully aging before my eyes. He once shared with me, “Do you know what keeps me going?”

My immediate answer was, “The horses?”

He responded, “You young people keep me going.”

Another time, as I was returning from the track on a horse, he spontaneously said, “Keith, you're a very good horseman, but let's do it my way. It has worked for over 60 years.”

I always treated him with the utmost respect. I never presumed to tell him what to do with his horses. Even when he eventually needed a walker, a truly fragile man, I continued to treat him as if he were as strong as Superman.

What began as a professional relationship with D. Wayne Lukas eventually blossomed into a profound friendship, one that extended to include his wonderful wife, Laurie Lukas. Over many years, our connection evolved far beyond boss and employee.

Wayne, you once told me that it was “you young people” who kept you going. To that, I'd reply that it's truly the wise who keep the young moving forward.

I'm endlessly grateful for the door that closed in my past, leading me to a door that, in my heart, will forever remain open.

You haven't closed your eyes yet, and that's precisely how I'll always remember you–full of life, wisdom, and an enduring spirit.

The post Letter to the Editor: My Unforgettable Mentorship with D. Wayne Lukas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article