Lukas Honored with BC Sports Award

[Wandering Eyes]

The Breeders’ Cup, in conjunction with the Breeders’ Cup Festival and the Kentucky Derby Museum, today announced that D. Wayne Lukas, who has accounted for the most wins for a trainer in Breeders’ Cup history, will be honored with the Breeders’ Cup Sports and Racing Excellence Award Wednesday, Oct. 31 at the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville. The event will also herald the Museum’s new $6.5 million expansion and renovation project, which includes a new exhibit dedicated to celebrating the career of Lukas. The presentation of the award is a part of the week-long series of Breeders’ Cup Festival of events and attractions in Louisville in support of the 35th Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs, Nov. 2-3.

“Wayne’s career migration from coaching sports to his extraordinary mastery of training Thoroughbred champions and record-breaking achievements has been truly remarkable over the past 40 years,” said Breeders’ Cup President and CEO Craig Fravel. “Wayne still holds the mark for Breeders’ Cup wins by a trainer and for that record of achievement and in recognition of his contribution to the development of so many trainers of the next generation, we are especially proud to present him with the Breeders’ Cup Sports and Racing Excellence Award.”

Lukas has trained 24 Eclipse Award winning horses, and three of those were voted Horse of the Year: Lady’s Secret in 1986, Criminal Type in 1990 and Charismatic in 1999. He has won the Eclipse Award as Outstanding Trainer on four occasions (1985-’87 and 1994). Lukas was inducted into Thoroughbred Racing’s Hall of Fame in 1999 and was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2007, becoming the first ever to be honored by both institutions. Lukas’ official biographical anthology–Sermon on the Mount–is set for release next month.

“We are honored to celebrate the storied career of D. Wayne Lukas, not only with this prestigious award, but also with the grand unveiling of the brand-new wing at the Kentucky Derby Museum. Guests attending will have the first chance to explore the D. Wayne Lukas exhibit that is a highlight of our multi-million-dollar expansion and renovation project. It will be a memorable evening saluting one of the icons of the racing industry. We are looking forward to sharing it with Wayne and everyone in attendance,” Kentucky Derby Museum President and CEO Patrick Armstrong said.

The Breeders’ Cup Sports and Racing Excellence Award is presented periodically to an individual who has displayed outstanding achievements both a sports related activity and in Thoroughbred racing. Previous recipients of the award have been champion professional golfer Gary Player and renowned broadcaster, the late Dick Enberg.

Ticket information for the reception honoring is available at www.breederscupfestival.com

 

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