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The first Kentucky Derby since the death of trainer D. Wayne Lukas has a different vibe
The Hall of Fame trainer’s coaching tree still shapes the Derby, with Todd Pletcher and Mike Maker among those carrying on his influence.
- On Wednesday, April 29, 2026, the horse racing community gathers at Churchill Downs for the first Kentucky Derby without Hall of Fame trainer Wayne Lukas. A sign marking the Lukas Gap remains near barn 44, where he spent more than four decades.
- Trainer Todd Pletcher, who worked for Lukas beginning in 1989, now leads a coaching tree of successful horsemen, including Mike Maker. Pletcher currently trains the favorite, Renegade, continuing the legacy of the man who 'lived for' the sport.
- Retired jockey Jerry Bailey recalled Lukas as a 'glass-half-full, positive guy,' noting the void at the barn without him. NBC Sports analyst Donna Brothers, who rode for Lukas in the 90s, said she misses consulting him about this year's Derby.
- Two-Time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert, a longtime friend, said the atmosphere feels different without Lukas. 'The thing is, without him here, it's a different little vibe,' Baffert said, reflecting on the trainer who won the Derby four times.
- Lukas' connection to horse racing traced back to training quarter horses in New Mexico before becoming one of the sport's most recognizable figures. His career lasted until June last year, when he died at age 89, establishing him as a mentor for countless horsemen.
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LA Daily NewsReposted by 
San Gabriel Valley Tribune
San Gabriel Valley TribuneFirst Kentucky Derby without the late D. Wayne Lukas has a different vibe
The presence of the Hall of Fame trainer, who died last summer at age 89, lingers around horse racing's biggest event at Churchill Downs.
·Los Angeles, United States
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Leaning Left5Leaning Right2Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution54% Center
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L 33%
C 54%
13%
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