Preakness Recap
The 149th Preakness went far beyond the race itself, which was pretty much the opposite of what we witnessed in the historic Kentucky Derby with its thrilling three-horse photo. The Preakness was won by a horse left alone on the lead every step of the way, but it was really about two men who brought history to rain-soaked Pimlico. ~ Steve Haskin
Two Legendary Horsemen Left Their Mark on the Preakness
By Steve Haskin
Neither the 2024 Preakness Stakes nor its winner Seize the Grey, its young jockey Jaime Torres, nor its vast multitude of My Racehorse owners, will be revisited here. You can read all about that elsewhere. This is about two men who in their own way wrote the main script for this year’s Preakness.
The race will long be remembered, and rightly so, for the victory of trainer D. Wayne Lukas at age 88, adding a new chapter in the career of the most dominating trainer the sport has ever known. It should also be remembered for the man who first saw the talents of an unknown trainer who had just ventured into Thoroughbred racing from the Quarter Horse game and not only gave him his first Preakness winner in 1980, he also provided the bloodlines for his latest Preakness winner 44 years later.
That man is the legendary owner, trainer, and breeder, and one of the founders of the Breeders’ Cup John Nerud. And as old as Lukas is, his mentor has left him with the promise of a number of productive years to come, having lived until the age of 102, still looking for new ways to improve the sport. For Lukas and Nerud it has always been about staying young through the horses and always looking to the future. Lukas still rides his pony every morning and Nerud was buying yearlings at age 99.
We all thought it was a great accomplishment when Lukas won his sixth Preakness with Oxbow at age 77 after a 14-year drought and a huge reduction of his once powerful stable. But he has proven to be as driven and indestructible as the man he has admired more than anyone.
That bond began on a morning at Santa Anita in 1978. Lukas had just come into Thoroughbred racing from Quarter Horses and had only four horses in his barn. He noticed someone hanging around the barn watching him and didn’t have a clue who he was. As he was heading to the track aboard his Quarter Horse, who he used as his pony, he saw the stranger following him and then walking alongside him. The man looked up and said, “Cowboy, I’m gonna send you some horses.” He then kept walking without saying another word.
Lukas saw trainer Jerry Fanning next to him and said, “Who is that old guy? He just said he was going to send me some horses.” Fanning replied, “That’s John Nerud, he runs Tartan Stable and Tartan Farm. If he says he says he’s going to send you some horses, then he damn sure will.”
Lukas recalled, “I had just set up shop and hardly had run any horses. When I caught up with him I’ll never forget him saying to me, ‘I’m not so sure you know the best horse in your barn.’ I said, “I hope I do; I only have four.’ He told me, ‘Well, I’ll tell you who your best horse is, it’s the one you’re sitting on.’ Sure enough, he was right. He was a Quarter Horse of mine who held five track records when I retired him and he was a very special horse. He could spot that quality right away.”
One of the first horses Nerud sent Lukas was an Arts and Letters colt named Codex, who went on to win the Santa Anita Derby, Hollywood Derby, and Preakness, in which he defeated Kentucky Derby Genuine Risk by over four lengths in near track-record time. Although still wet behind the ears when it came to Thoroughbreds, Lukas already was a classic-winning trainer and the racing world took notice. Two years later Lukas won another Santa Anita Derby with Tartan Stable’s Muttering. The legend of Wayne Lukas was born and would skyrocket to heights never before attained.
Fast forward to 2024. Lukas no longer has hundreds of horses spread all over the country as well as farms and training centers. He no longer is the man known for his shades and $3,000 suits and always being perfectly coifed, with the outside of his barn beautifully manicured and adorned with a variety of flowers and plants. He is now racing’s beloved old timer who wears a cowboy hat, walks with a cane, and has more one-liners than he has horses. He no longer lives life in excess and now is content merely being content. And that means being around his horses every morning, bonding with other trainers, and even riding in a van with them for 12 hours. The only similarity between Lukas today and the old Lukas is that when he gets off that van after 12 hours, there isn’t a single crease in his jeans.
He admittedly is more comfortable now in his own skin and no longer feels he has to wake up every morning proving to others he is a superior horseman. Many years ago he once was compelled to open up about a story in the Louisville Courier-Journal that portrayed him as basically a marketer and ignoring the horsemanship skills that John Nerud first saw in him one morning when no one knew he was. It was obvious that article still had stung and he finally let his feelings pour out.
“I stand out here for four or five hours a day and try to do my job, and they’ve got me as some Barnum-and-Bailey guy that doesn’t know a thing about a horse. I’m proud of my staff and I’m proud of what we’ve done. That’s what we are; deal with it.”
That is now long in the past. The new Wayne Lukas now enjoys people more and being a good will ambassador for racing. At Oaklawn Park, every time he’d win a race and headed to the winner’s circle, he would choose a child, usually around 5 to 8 years old, and take him or her into the winner’s circle to be part of the celebration. He would assure the parents he would take good care of their child. He then would arrange for the track photographer to make up eight prints of the winner’s circle photo for the parents to pick up later in the afternoon. After a while, families would be lined up near the winner’s circle after a Lukas victory, hoping he would choose their child.
As we saw on Saturday the love for Wayne Lukas now comes pouring freely, from fans, media, and even rival trainers he has just defeated. And as for Seize the Grey, Lukas seemed to get more joy for his staff and for providing a thrill to the thousands of micro owners of the colt.
He would have gotten even more joy had he known that the winner’s sire Arrogate comes from a long line of John Nerud-bred horses, from his grandsire Unbridled to Fappiano to Dr. Fager. It took Nerud 10 years of meticulous planning to get Unbridled, who won the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic, and as a side note, the Preakness third-place finisher Catching Freedom is inbred to Unbridled.
Not only is Arrogate a grandson of Unbridled, his sire, Unbridled’s Song, is inbred to Tartan foundation mare Aspidistra, the dam of Dr. Fager and Ta Wee, and Arrogate himself is inbred to In Reality, who was born and raised at Tartan Farm, stood at stud there, and is a son of Tartan foundation sire and Nerud’s first major purchase for Tartan, Intentionally. It was Nerud who convinced his good friend Mrs. Frances Genter to breed her mare My Dear Girl to Intentionally, and the result was In Reality.
As another side note of this year’s Triple Crown, in the pedigrees of the horses entered in this year’s Kentucky Derby, you will find the names of 78 horses bred and/or owned by John Nerud.
Among the other top horses who trace to Nerud-bred horses are Triple Crown winners American Pharoah and Justify, as well as mega stallions Tapit and Gun Runner, recent Horses of the Year Flightline and Cody’s Wish, and Holy Bull, Rachel Alexandra, and Shared Belief. In addition to American Pharoah and Justify are Kentucky Derby winners California Chrome, Real Quiet, Nyquist, Orb, Always Dreaming, Mandaloun and the disqualified Medina Spirit and Maximum Security, as well as Belmont winners Arcangelo, Empire Maker, Essential Quality, Tonalist, Creator, and Tapwrit.
Not only does Seize the Grey trace to a number of Nerud-bred horses, so did Lukas’s other horse in the Preakness, the tough-as-nails Just Steel, who sadly came out of the race with a condylar fracture. Just Steel’s sire, Justify, traces to the Nerud-bred Ogygian.
What makes Nerud’s influence on the breed even more remarkable is that Dr. Fager, who was the leading sire in North America in 1977, died at age 12, and Fappiano, whose sire line is one of the potent in the world, died at age 13.
So even after more than four decades, Lukas and Nerud are still linked together. Nerud was a genius in so many aspects of racing and breeding, but his main legacy has been speed, with Dr. Fager, regarded by many as the fastest horse ever to race in America, and his sister Ta Wee winning four consecutive Sprint championships carrying staggering weights, Fappiano winning the Met Mile, and Dr. Patches winning the Sprint championship and upsetting Seattle Slew going 1 1/8 miles. With the exception of Ta Wee, Nerud’s fast horses all could carry their speed a distance, just as we saw the Lukas-trained Winning Colors win the Kentucky Derby wire-to-wire.
So it it shouldn’t have come as a surprise to see Seize the Grey, coming off fractions of :22 and :44 3/5 in the one-turn Pat Day Mile strolling out there in :47 3/5 in the Preakness and just keep going.
Although it is common practice now for a horse to go straight from the Kentucky Derby to the Belmont and win, the first trainer do it successfully was Wayne Lukas in 2000 with Commendable, who finished 17th in the Derby and then won the Belmont at odds of 18-1.
Now, at age 88, he is still setting precedents. Along with being the oldest trainer to win a Triple Crown race, Seize the Grey became the first Pat Day Stakes winner to come back in two weeks and win the Preakness. (Sidenote: With Mystik Dan and Catching Freedom also having run on Derby Day, the Preakness trifecta consisted of the 1-2-3 finishers all returning on two weeks rest — something to ponder with all the recent talk of changing the Triple Crown dates).
You can bet John Nerud would have been proud. Nerud used to kid Lukas by saying, “I taught him everything I know. Too bad he forgot it all.”
But Lukas will never forget Nerud for recognizing his training and organizational skills and giving him his first big break and mentoring him over the years.
At Nerud’s 100th birthday party, Lukas said, “John, you are the greatest and have always been one of my favorite people in the world. You know how instrumental you were in my career. Throughout your career you went from the shedrow, from the hotwalkers and the grooms, to the board room and everything in between. You had such a feel for the backstretch help, the jockeys, all the way to the ushers and ticket sellers. In the board room at Belmont Park, you made more sense than 95% of the people in there. You were a true visionary.
“When you look throughout history and a person’s legacy, you had a marvelous feel for what good horses needed, You always thought less was better and you took that to an art form. You never pitched me any slack and I was the better for it. But you always made me feel like I was doing a good job. There aren’t enough superlatives to describe you and to tell you how special you are to me.”
That is the humble and appreciative Wayne Lukas everyone has come to love today, from those who once were critical of him, to his staff, rival trainers, media members, mothers and their young children given the thrill of a lifetime, and finally to the 2,500 owners of Seize the Grey, who now feel like they are sitting atop the racing world. As Lukas said, “That’s what I get paid for, to let them live the dream.”
As for Bob Baffert, his one-time antagonist when they competed for horses from the same big-time owner, you could see the joy in his face as he congratulated Lukas after this year’s Preakness. After Oxbow’s 2013 Preakness victory Baffert said, “We’ve shared a lot over the years, starting with our Quarter Horse background. I’m very close to Wayne now. We’ve had to deal with a lot of the same stuff. We were both very successful and hated by many. But people forget how much Wayne has done for this sport. He roots for me and I root for him. As we get older we appreciate things more.”
Lukas was touched by the sentiment. “For Bob to come over right after the race to congratulate me really meant a lot.“
It was no different this year. “Looking around and seeing everybody hugging, one of the things that was very significant to me today — and maybe it’s because I’m getting a little bit older – was that as I came out of the grandstand and out across the racetrack, every one of the guys that were in that race stopped and hugged me and give me a handshake,” Lukas said. “That meant more to me than any single thing. Baffert, Kenny McPeek, right down the line.”
One thing Lukas has been known for is not holding back his feelings when it comes to a poor ride by his jockey. But often with a young rider a tongue lashing from Lukas makes them stronger and they learn quicker, just as he learned from his mistakes when taken to task by Nerud.
“A couple of weeks ago (Jaime Torres) rode one for me that wasn’t very pretty and I followed him all the way through the tunnel, all the way up the steps to the jocks’ room, and I chewed him out,” Lukas said.
“I told him, ‘You’ll be back in Puerto Rico picking oranges if you’re going to ride like that.’ I know that when he turned for home (on Seize the Grey) it was echoing in his ears that he’d better get down and start scrubbing because I think it really hit home.”
In concluding the story of these two legendary horsemen, Nerud unknowingly wrote his own epitaph at that 100th birthday party when he said, “I’m old and I’ve traveled a long ways and have seen a hundred years. And the way I’d like to be remembered is, ‘I did it my way.’”
No truer words could be said about Lukas, who like Nerud was a pioneer who blazed new trails that changed the face of Thoroughbred racing.
One thing is for certain; we will never see the likes of John Nerud again. When he was pronounced dead, his son Jan called Nerud’s longtime publicist Lance Bell and said simply said, “He’s gone.” A few minutes later, Jan called back and said, “You’re not going to believe this…he’s back.”
Lukas hasn’t exactly returned from the dead, but for someone who is about to turn 89, boy is he back.
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Six Degrees of Kenny McPeek
Or you can call it the McPreak connection. Kenny McPeek did not win the Preakness, settling for second with Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, but his presence, acknowledged or not, was everywhere.
Tuscan Gold’s broodmare sire Curlin was purchased at the Keeneland September yearling sale for $57,000 by Kenny McPeek.
Tuscan Gold’s sire Medaglia d‘Oro finished second in the Belmont Stakes at 16-1, beaten a half-length by 70-1 shot Sarava, trained by Kenny McPeek.
Imagination’s paternal grandsire Harlan’s Holiday was trained by Kenny McPeek.
Imagination’s jockey Frankie Dettori was upset in the 2022 Belmont Derby aboard Godolphin’s 2-1 favorite Nations Pride by 26-1 shot Classic Causeway, trained by Kenny McPeek.
The first Kentucky Derby-winning colt trained by Seize the Grey and Just Steel’s trainer D. Wayne Lukas was Thunder Gulch, who defeated runner-up Tejano Run, trained by Kenny McPeek.
Seize the Grey’s owner My Racehorse owned Kentucky Derby winner Authentic, who was upset in the Preakness by the filly Swiss Skydiver, trained by Kenny McPeek
Catching Freedom’s breeder WinStar Farm bred two Travers winners – 33-1 Golden Ticket, trained by Kenny McPeek, and Colonel John, broodmare sire of Mystik Dan, trained by Kenny McPeek.
Catching Freedom’s trainer Brad Cox’s first big horse that put him on the map was future Hall of Famer Monomoy Girl, whose first grade 1 victory came in the Ashland Stakes, defeating runner-up Eskimo Kisses, trained by Kenny McPeek.
One final note about Kenny McPeek: Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert, with their arsenal of 3-year-olds over the years, had the distinction of being the only trainers to win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont, and Travers with four different horses, owned by four different owners. Not only did Kenny McPeek equal that accomplishment this year with far fewer 3-year-olds over his career and none of them high-priced purchases, he did it with 18-1 Mystik Dan (Kentucky Derby), 11-1 Swiss Skydiver (Preakness), 70-1 Sarava (Belmont Stakes), and 33-1 Golden Ticket (Travers Stakes).
Photo courtesy of Maryland Jockey Club
Racing historian, author, and award-winning retired journalist for the Daily Racing Form and The Blood-Horse, Steve Haskin was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame’s Media Roll of Honor in 2016. Known for his racing knowledge and insightful prose, he has been an exclusive contributor t
I was hoping the Belmont Stakes Carnival at Saratoga was going to be so special then I looked at the weather forecast. Miserable.
Today at Santa Anita in the last race a maiden claimer ran with the name of Pay Tribute. In 1976 pay tribute won the Hollywood gold cup over dahlia ancient title and foolish pleasure sad his name couldn’t be retired instead of wasted on a cheap 2024 horse on google in sports illustrated vault is an amazing story of Pay Tribute’s 1976 Hollywood gold cup win plus great info on ancient title foolish pleasure royal glint etc
Thanks Nick for posting, I remember Pay Tribute.
City of Troy gives Justify his first Epsom Derby while Aidan O’Brien makes fools of the ‘experts’ who doubted the colt in droves.
So exciting! What a race !!!
Yes, Nick, a good win by City of Troy and, not for the loose horse, he would have won by another 3 – 4 lengths.
We’ll leave to wait to see the rest of the better 3 year olds later in the year. The Prix du Jockey Club was a weak field to say the least. Apart from City of Troy there isn’t much on offer at this stage.
The Irish Derby might have the best field thus far – June 30.
Yeah City of Troy ! Yeah justify !
Kenny McPeek is definitely considering running Mystik Dan in the Belmont. If he decides not to, he’ll give serious consideration to entering Thorpedo Anna instead!
I took a lot of incoming fire for a post in which I stated that in my opinion the Constitution colt Deposition, who has a May 6th foaling date, was poorly managed boarding on abuse. I provided the context to my conclusion but that wasn’t enough prevent the anger with which my comments were viewed.
The colt was being defeated by wide margins and was making repeated starts off short rest with even 3 starts in one month.
Subsequent to my post the colt had a mishap in KD Prep and fell. Fortunately, he didn’t sustain any serious injuries.
After being away from the races for 44 days he returned in the Sir Barton on Preakness day and finished last of 8 by 13L. This colt is eligible for a NW2 allowance.
Given the colt’s recent result. Were the negative comments directed towards me warranted?
Thank you for this weeks article.
It was a joy to read.
Florent Geroux to ride Honor Marie in the Belmont, as expected
I am anxious to see how Tyler Gaffalione reacts to losing the mount on Sierra Leone.
Tyler G is currently winning at 14% for the year and 13% at the current Churchill Downs meet. Maybe this will be the spark to get him going.
Any thoughts on Prospective?
Any thoughts on Protective
I’m not in love with the horses that have finished ahead of him. Antiquarian, Resilience, The Wine Steward, and Society Man.
I am looking for a longshot though. Who knows?
I expect Chad Brown to have a very big day on Belmont Day at Saratoga. And not necessarily with Sierra Leone.
With the Epsom Oaks and Epsom Derby being run this Friday and Saturday respectively It’s anyone’s guess who will triumph such is the lack of conviction from each runner. Still, it is THE Oaks and THE Derby so let’s enjoy the races.
I like the name Rubies are Red so she’ll be the pick for the Oaks and City of Troy can’t be as bad as his last run in the 2,000 Guineas so he gets the nod on past glories.
Tapit Trice’s return in the Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs on Saturday is highly anticipated. Good luck.
Damaged goods
He has been off for 9 months. Bad sign, man!
Tapit Trice has been performing in continuous workouts since February 18, 2024 and was entered in the Alysheba Stakes, May 3, 2024 but was scratched because of the atrocious conditions.
Extremely valuable goods would be more to the point. lol. Tapit Trice has a future as a sire.
Haven’t noticed Bill Dawson here lately. Hope he’s okay.
The Irish 1,000 Guineas and Japanese Derby (Tokyo Yushun) both fell to long shots with the favorites running third and second respectively in each race. I was extremely pleased with the performance of Shin Emperor rattling home for third in the Japanese Derby at a good price.
Next year Shin Emperor, full brother to Arc winner Sottsass, may be representing Japan in the Arc.
Auguste Rodin was outclassed by White Birch in the Tattersall’s Gold Cup, Group 1, the trend of upsets in Group & Grade 1 races around the world continues.
I can now fill int he blanks.
That’s the intention, Counter Point. Hope you enjoyed the races and now start looking for your Epsom Derby and Oaks horses in a few weeks time. You don’t just want to read about the horses I like. Ha ha
After Rich Strike and Mage, I’d be happy just to see a Derby winner win another race. ANY RACE. Although technically, I don’t think that Rich Strike is retired yet. Come on, Mystik Dan. I know you can do it.
You do realize that Mystik Dan has a record of 8 starts with 3 wins. Such a record doesn’t reflect superiority over his peers,
I just checked on Tyler Gaffalione. Wondering about the jockey change on Sierra Leone.
Tyler G is only winning at 14% so far this year. Not so great for a guy that gets as many good mounts as he does. Flavien Prat winning at 23%. Hmmm.
I can’t blame Chad Brown for wanting to give his horse the best possible chance to win. Brown is probably under tremendous pressure given the connections of the $2.3million horse. Chad Brown is a sharp fella.
Still, I’m not convinced that a rider change is going to get Sierra Leone to run straight in the stretch. We’ll see.
I can’t wait to read what Steve Haskin has to say on the subject.
Chad Brown should have addressed the lugging in problem with Sierra Leone long before the Kentucky Derby. Thank goodness that Tyler Gafflione was on him as he prevented a tragedy. The legs of Forever Young and Sierra Leone were almost intertwined. Thankfully, no one was injured and Tyler kept both horses and riders safe.
And now Chad Brown has Sierra Leone training on the track by the rail. How is he going to learn to stop lugging in if he is running on the rail? If it was any other trainer, the owners might have changed trainers.
TerriZ, agree with you that jockey change is not the solution.
Have a retired jockey friend who gave high praise to Tyler. He also mentioned the need for a bit change.
Not sure what training on rail will accomplish either.
Really of the opinion that his conformation fault which has resulted in his winging out has resulted in SL learning that leaning in can be used as a bullying tactic to push other horses out of way.
He is supposedly a very intelligent horse.
Lynda, I was watching Fox Sports and it was mentioned that there is a bit change for SL. Also, it was mentioned that Chad was a bit upset that Tyler had the crop in the wrong hand but it was not the reason for the change of jockey and I think Prat got the nod on SL if I’m not mistaken.
SL had leaned in so far on Forever Young that Tyler could not use the crop.
Tyler handled that situation as best he could.
Yes sometimes jockeys make mistakes but not in this race.
It’s the horse.
The switch to a ring bit might help.
We shall see I guess.
Thanks Lynda King. Tyler is a terrific jockey and horseman, he comes from a family of the same.
I don’t appreciate someone being thrown “under the bus” when they have done a good job and everyone is safe.
Lynda King Congratulations to you and all who own a part of Seize The Grey. How fitting that a horse descended from pedigree line (Unbridled) developed by John Nerud should win the Preakness. I am sure that the spirit of the late great trainer was there as well.
Good comments Terri! Agree!
Thanks Mike Relva
Seconded.
I don’t have the answer, but I don’t see this as the key to the fix. Terri and Lynda, on point – as usual!
I think if SL does not put in a $2.3 million looking performance in the Belmont, CB very likely will lose the training job.
Rosallion was an unconvincing winner over his stablemate Haatem in the Irish 2,000 Guineas but what a tremendous effort by trainer Richard Hannon, nonetheless.
Hopefully, the fillies put on a better show tomorrow. Thus far, the European racing the European racing hasn’t been much to write home about. Still, there is a long way to go.
Chad Brown is making a rider change, for Sierra Leone …to Prat…
Honor Marie will have a new rider since Ben Curtis broke his collarbone ….poor guy. It might be Florent Geroux, though that’s not confirmed
HM worked today at CD in 1:01 and change
I’m going to play Honor Marie—prefer another rider, Geroux more of a front running specialist….give me a Rosario!
I think only because Geroux has worked him before…but clearly that’s not the only factor or he’d have been named by now
You’ll get a good price despite HM taking money in the Derby and most knowing about his brutal trip. I think he’ll be a huge overlay
He looked good today!
Sierra Leone looks good in a recent picture, I like them both ..
Come on Matt!
They ae all running for 2nd if Batten Down is entered.
Rosallion was an unconvincing winner over his stablemate Haatem in the Irish 2,000 Guineas but what a tremendous effort by trainer Richard Hannon, nonetheless.
Hopefully, the fillies put on a better show tomorrow. Thus far, the European racing the European racing hasn’t been much to write home about. Still, there is a long way to go.
Probably worried that the horse will finally be taken down – twice already, that should have happened.
Mindframe’s next choice of race will be interesting, no?
I wish someone would step up, maybe Mindframe? We have had 3 straight years of glacially slow 3year olds. Or maybe one could develop as a 4 year old if they stayed in training. I remember Gun Runner being an average 3 year old, then becoming something special later.
Todd, Mindframe, Parchment Party, Sleep Easy, Born Noble and Mc Vay are Constitution colts that I’m hoping will fore-fill their early potential but who knows these days especially with those having minor setbacks.
The return of Tapit Trice in the Blame Stakes on June 1 at Churchill Downs is highly anticipated so there might be some promise there for later in the year.
For at least the last few years Belmont Day has featured 13 races. Belmont Day at Saratoga will have 14 races. NYRA joins the trend of squeezing as many races into the big days as possible. An extra race at Saratoga doesn’t bother me at all as long as it’s not a 5-horse race in the 14th and final “get out” race like they had at Pimlico on Preakness Day.
Steve: You are an encyclopedia of knowledge. When you write about my favorite trainer John Nerud I really perk up. What a great horseman he was. He was also very good & kind with the public. I met him briefly at Hollywood Park in 1968. It was in the walking ring area while he was preparing Dr. Fager for the Californian. I get goosebumps when I read stories about him. I bought & read your book about the Doc, I was hanging on every paragraph. Obviously today’s thoroughbreds pale in comparison (IMO) to yesterdays equine greats.
Keep up the great work Steve & have a happy Memorial Day weekend.
Thank you very much Deacon . I’m so glad you got to meet him and feel that way about him. A true genius and pioneer, And he gave me my angle for the column Lol I cherish his friendship.
Thank you for your excellent writing about D Wayne Lukas & John! I’m sure you don’t remember but you sent me an 8 x 10 photo of D Wayne, Gary Stevens & Oxbow after he won the Preakness Stakes. You later had it autographed by D Wayne & Gary. I treasure it to this day & can’t thank you enough! I also love that you mentioned Bob Baffert in this article. I know he was D Wayne’s assistant back in the day & they’re close friends to this day. Steve I first became intrigued by your writing when I had a subscription to Blood-Horse Magazine & would always go to Hangin’ With Haskin first thing. I’m so glad you have this blog & I always absolutely love your writing!
Thank you very much Cara. I remember that photo well and getting Wayne and Gary to sign it. Gary loved it. I think t captured the moment,
So very cool you remember that photo! I sincerely appreciate you doing that & I cherish that photo! 😊🏇
As always… love your articles!! But today’s is the best as I am one of the 2570 owners of Seize The Grey ! What a thrill! I also owned a share of Authentic so now if I can win a Belmont at some point……..
Steve, you have such a way of writing that is amazing and every article I read of yours is so informative and heartfelt ! The history and background of horses and people is always so enlightening!! Thank you ❤️
I really appreciate the kind words Linda. Thank you so much, And a double congratulations to you. Two legs home and one to go. If you get it I may have to do a column on you as My Racehorse’s good luck charm. Baffert and Lukas — what a pair you had behind you,
Congratulations, Linda! I’m with MyRacehorse also, though I don’t own Seize the Grey. I can imagine how overjoyed you must have been last Saturday. I was cheering for him all the way down the lane!
Thank you! I always love your writing. We connected once by email several years ago.
All the best stories are in horse racing. I’m glad you provide them with all their connections. As with some others here, I’m one of the 2570 owners of Seize the Grey.
He was my 1st purchase and I’m pretty sure will be very hard if not impossible to follow.
Thank you!
Thank you Allison. Congatulations, , and with your first ever. Cant get any better than that. Only thing to do now is quit while youre ahead. 🙂
Congratulations, Allison! Wow! Your first purchase! That is fantastic.
Thank you! Arrogate and John Nerud can be proud.
Dash for Cash’s sire, Rocket Wrangler, was out of Go Galla Go by Go Man Go. He was the winner of the Quarter Horse Racings championship in 1955, 1956 and 1957.
Go Man Go’s grandsire was out of Man O’s War’s daughter Frilette. Actually two lines back to Man O’ War.
Go Man Go also Go back to Eclipse and Lexington.
It was not unusual going back to introduction of Thoroughbreds to the British Colony, America, for Thoroughbreds to be in the pedigrees of horses that became the American Quarter Horse.
A neighbor in Virginia had a son by Go Man Go. He got out of his pasture one day and came flying by my house.
LOL, the 2 year old exhibitions of TBs had auction have nothing on an AQH. The stallion was just blur as he flew by my house. Talk about thundering hooves!
Terlingua…who threw Storm Cat…..was out of Crimson Saint, who had a brilliant turn of foot…Terlingua was a red chestnut, I think she beat Flying Paster in the 1978 Del Mar Futurity, Wayne tried to beat Paster in the SA Derby but she was no match, around two turns, but Terlingua helped put Wayne on the Thoroughbred map, along with another chestnut Effervescing, who was beautifully built! Not much longer came Codex…and his two Dash For Cash fillies Dashingly and Justanold Love, both chestnut and both beautiful….
Coming from the Quarter Horse world….where the mare Charger Bar was top horse for years–I think Wayne might not have understood the dominance male Thoroughbreds carried over fillies, between 6 thru 12 furlongs on dirt….speed and stamina being equal….but males hold a strength advantage, and on dirt that makes a big difference….Terlingua and Lady’s Secret were able to defeat males, but they also were badly beaten, as was his little filly Serena’s Song, who is still alive in her thirties….but Wayne has always run them, his Amazon Winning Colors winning one of the strongest Derby fields in history, taking the race to them, but Winning Colors could do that she was huge—she was great….
I’ll never forget how much Lukas loved Landaluce …he said afterward that he never allowed himself to get that attached to a horse again 😭😭😭
I wish I could have seen her live…
I think Buddy Casico trained Dashingly, not Lucas.
That’s right….Wayne trained many good Quarter Horses…but Bubba had Dash For Cash…Wayne did get those two fillies, out of his first crop…Justanold Love won the All American Futurity and Dashingly was even better!…
They must have both had Dash for Cash at certain points, because D Wayne said in an interview for AQHA when he was being inducted to the HOF that DFC was the only horse he ever saddled he thought would never lose.
Bubba Cascio had him ..
I have a copy of Patricia McQueen’s beautiful book entitled “Secretariat’s Legacy.” Chapter 14 is entitled “The Lucas Touch.”
Of Secretariat offspring’s 40 stakes winners, a full seven were in D. Wayne Lucas’s care. They are Cinegita, Clever Secret, Fiesta Lady, Image of Greatness, Lady’s Secret, Pancho Villa and Terlingua. Of the nine grade/group 1 winners, Lucas trained 3, a full one third. He had a magic touch, all right.
I have a bunch of old Turf magazines, and have to find time to read the old pieces written about this guy!
Interesting piece of trivia.
Dash for Cash, one of the most famous American Quarter Horses in the 20th century both on the track and in the breeding shed was foaled in 1973, the same year Secretariat won the the Triple Crown.
He was related to and carries the same DNA as Secretariat and he is a bright red chestnut.
His great grand dam, Scattered, was by Whirlaway (Triple Crown 1941) out of Imperatrice who was the dam of Sonethingroyal.
They had a Fall Thoroughbred meet at Los Al , in 1976…on a December Friday afternoon with my mother…a three year old Fash For Cash ran a 350 yard work, between races, and the big chestnut looked good…..right days later I went to see The Champion of Champions race—from the disadvantage rail post, Dash For Cash won by 1 3/4 lengths, at 9/2 odds….breaking the :21.60 track record, on :21.17—- track record stood for several decades…..his next race was the gr1 Go Man Go in August—-he went off 1/10…..
:21.17 Quarter Mile–no run-up, gates open timer starts….
Great story about all of my heroes !
Just WHEN did The Kentucky Derby limit it’s race to 20 horses? I always thought it was after the 100th renewal, in 1974, when they had 23 horses ….but 1981 Pleasant Colony won, and there were 21 horses….??..
Long complicated situation. They needed the court to step in and allow the 21st starter. The story is probab;y somewhere on Google.
Big John’s Derby! Pleasant Colony had a big move!…
So glad you returned John Nerud to the spotlight. A great sportsman who should never be forgotten.
As usual, Steve has written a piece that is both informative and a literary inspiration. Thank you for your historical perspective on two ethical men.
Thank you very much, Diane
I know a few of Seize The Grey’s many owners. All are over the moon. I’m happy for them, The Coach, and all of the handsome gray’s connections. As an old timer who grew up watching Dr. Fager, Damascus, Buckpasser, Graustark, Gun Bow, Bold Bidder and Tom Rolfe race in Chicago racing’s glory days, I appreciate all of your historical references. Thank you!
Don’t think you are free from racing this weekend by any means. We are off to the Emerald Isle for the Irish 2,000 Guineas on May, 25 at the Curragh and a return visit to the Curragh on Sunday for the I,000 Guineas.
Also on May 26, but in Japan, they are contesting the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby).
Predicting a winner in each race is problematical so, go for your favorites. For me, Rosallion and Unquestionable are the pick for the Irish 2,000 Guineas; Opera Singer and Azada in the Irish 1,000 Guineas while in the Tokyo Yushun- Shin Emperor and Justin Milano might fight it out. It’ll fun no matter the outcome.
Good luck and enjoy the racing.
Kentucky Deby – 18/1
Preakness – 9/1
British 2000 Guineas – 16/1
British 1000 Guineas -28/1
French 2000 Guineas 243/10
French 1000 Guineas – 33/1
That’s right Counter Point, I can’t recall so many ‘upsets’ in Classics before, which adds to the fun or disappointment depending on who you picked.
Davids-out of curiosity and you don’t have to answer- are you an owner, breeder or anything like that? And what country are you commenting from. I love your takes on the international scene…
John, i have family connections in the US, England, and Australia who are owners, small time breeders while some are on-course bookmakers in the latter two countries. I sometimes have minor shares in horses.
My uncles used to send me stud books as birthday presents from a very young so bloodlines of racehorses have been an interest most of my life. I’m living/working in Melbourne, Australia, now but have lived/worked in the US, Europe previously.
I completed a Diploma on Horse Breeding (Stud Management) while completing a Thesis as it helped reduce the stress. That’s about it. Ha ha Horse racing is everything to me.
I can sympathise, I started following Steve’s writing, about the time I started writing mine. I grew up in a baseball family, so industry issues are old news for me. But the beauty of the horses running? Nothing like it.
Exactly Angela, instead of being surrounded by dozens of reference books and the computer anxiously trying to blend a coherent argument but going nowhere you were free on a farm riding, grooming, mucking out stalls etc allowing the mind to think things through clearly.
It worked for me, and you learnt how to manage a stud farm as well. Perfect.
Thanks DavidS, I knew you were well informed about horseracing. I also read somewhere that you had roots in Australia. I have a friend who is a gold prospector up here in Washington state pandandling for ‘color’ in the rivers and streams of the Cascade Mountains…he said that huge gold nugget (over 60 lbs.) at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas was found in Australia. And the highest quality opal is found in Australia-and I think opal is prettier than gold.
Anyway, thanks for your background…it makes the world a little smaller.
That’s true, John. I have a distant relative who was a Cornish tin miner that came out to Australia to find gold at the Kalgoorlie gold rush. The largest nugget found there is the Golden Eagle, weighing 70.9 pound.
Coober Pedy, in South Australia, is the famous Opal town where the finest white Opals are found and is regarded as the ‘opal capital of the world.’ Tough lifestyle though. lol
Steve, reading your historical perspective on two of the giants of US racing you wonder where racing would be today without their influences. Gone, possibly, definitely more insignificant than it is now. Anyone who lived through the 70s, 80s can vouch for that. No Breeders’ Cup and a much more parochial intrastate related competition. The impact on the breeding industry would be immune either.
There are so many amusing anecdotes attributed to both men and their contribution to US racing that you could write a book or two without covering the full extent of their influence.
You have captured the essence of both men perfectly, their personalities and foibles in response to differing situations both positively and negatively. You know the characters through your chosen memories of both men. Lukas’ sartorial elegance of the 80s are so different than the cowboy trunks of today’s man that it’s hard to believe they are made from the same cloth.
Thanks again for mentioning In Reality along with the immortal Dr. Fager, I always remember them together. Especially from that picture you chose for: “In the Shadow of Giants.” Don’t ever stop writing, Steve, you would break too many hearts.
Thanks David, as I keep saying I just wish young people would read this and other stories from the past just to get a sense of what this sport was and of a time long gone. But all I can do is keeping writing them and be content with knowing they at least are binging back memories for those of us who can appreeciate their historical significance.
Steve, it must be a generational thing but when I was a young lad all I wanted to find out was how great the horses were beforehand. with the internet now everything is at your fingertips and, moreover, often access to film/video/photographs that were impossible to find in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s.
Seize the Grey earned a 100 BSF for his Preakness win.
I see so many people saying that Fierceness is a toss in the Belmont. Why? He’s still the only one that’s run fast. No, I don’t think he’s shot. He just doesn’t run his best race every time. Every other race so far. I think that it would be no problem for him to sit behind any other potential speed in the Belmont. I didn’t use him in the Derby, but I might in the Belmont if the price is right.
The Derby is kind of a crapshoot with so many horses. The favorites have lost in the Preakness for 6 years in a row now. The Belmont is different. 5 of the last 10 winners were the favorite. 3 of the last 4 winners were the favorite.
While the horses that came back in 2 weeks ran very well at Baltimore, facing Sierra Leone and Fierceness in just 3 more weeks could be a bridge too far. The Pletcher and Brown horses with a perfect 5 week rest. I’ll want to see how Sierra Leone and Fierceness work in the next 2 weeks. Could we see 3-1 and 7-2 on those two horses? I wish that I had a crystal ball to tell me if Sierra Leone is going to run straight in the stretch and if Fierceness is sure to run one of his good ones. Those 2 to the wire. If Sierra Leone in on the inside, that could be just the ticket to victory.
This could turn out to be oe of the toughest betting races in years. As you said, you just dont know what the key figures are going to do, As for Fierceness you can never throw him out no matter ow disappointing a race hes coming off of.
You can really come up with some interesting things, Mr. Haskin. 44 years from his first Preakness winner to his latest. In the old days of the $3,000 suits, D Wayne Lukas was especially known for his super fillies. Life’s Magic, Lady’s Secret, Open Mind, and Landaluce to name just a few. I bet Editor’s Note in the Derby and cashed because he was coupled with Grindstone. I did cash on Editor’s Note in the Belmont.
I remember both BB and D Wayne Lukas from nighttime quarterhorse racing at Los Alamitos. Though I had no idea what either one of them looked like in those days. Interestingly, neither was the leading trainer even though they won at a high percentage. Blane Schvandaveldt ruled the roost at Los Alamitos in those days. So many of Lukas’ winners were in the colors of Eugene Klein’s San Diego Chargers.
Jerry Fanning? I hadn’t thought of him in many years. I bet his Desert Wine in the Derby when he ran 2nd and paid something like $8-$10 to place. I really don’t remember.
I did notice that the first 3 finishers in the Preakness were the ones coming back in 2 weeks. The winner being the one that ran the shortest distance on the first Saturday in May. The Pat Day Mile being the perfect setup.
That’s really something about Kenny McPeek joining an exclusive club with all longshot winners. I hadn’t noticed that. Such an interesting sport. And no one writes about it better than Steve Haskin.
Thank you Steve for this informative piece of history tied into the Preakness story. Your passion for weaving details together is second to none. I hope to meet you at the PA Derby this year if you’re attending. I believe I’ve seen you there before in passing near the walking ring.
Thanks Jay. No more Pa. Derby fo us. We now live in Connecticut.
As always, your history lessons are amazing, Steve! Good thing that D Wayne was training and not the many owners (including me) who thought it was a mistake to send Seize the Grey to the Preakness!! 😊. Boy were we ever wrong!
Thank you Sandy. Wayne has spent a lifetime proving people wrong.
Steve your writing helped put things in perspective….when I saw Wayne around 2008—I just walked right by him, and nobody noticed him, at Los Al…..I was 49, but my two previous times I was around the guy was as a 13 year old, and he was grouchy! I’m sure was stressed out, back in the Day—he seems to have given the grouch the boot!…
Great column as always, Steve. I love the way you go back through history and pull the strings together.
The fact that the top three horses ended up on top after only two weeks from the last race harkins back to the days of Secretariat. He was raced frequently. To me it makes more sense to strengthen the horse that way.
Thank you Anne. That is what makes history so important and fascinating.. It is always there to anchor and give meaning to what happens today . You just hhave to look for it,
Steve as always you have outdone yourself! Greta piece! Always interesting, educational and written to perfection. Thanks for all you give of yourself for, the horse racing community! What you have stored in your memory and how you put pen to paper, so to speak, there are no words to describe it. Thank you!
Teri
Thank you so much Teri. That is very kind of you to say.. As long as I can keep digging into that memory bank and making withdrawals I’ll always have sometthing to write about,
Wonderful write-up, Steve, as always.
I very much enjoyed the article. Wayne Lukas has in some ways reinvented himsel for the better. Years and perspective can do that. To his many critics, remember that two of the Triple Crown race winners last year were handled very patiently, starting only seven and six times, yet couldn’t stay on the racetrack to finish their 3yo years. Yes, horses are fragile, but keeping them in the barn doesn’t necessarily extend their careers.
Great write up! It’s so interesting how interconnected everyone in the sport is, or has been. I never knew about Mr. Lukas taking the kids to the Winner’s Circle. Pretty neat.
When it comes down to it, D. Wayne Lukas has given me huge thrills in racing. Winning Colors was my first true love in thoroughbred racing. Her Derby and the iconic Distaff against Personal Ensign still make me choke up to watch. Other favorites of his have been Charismatic, Oxbow, Star of Cozzene, Serena’s Song, and honestly, even the thoroughly dangerous Tabasco Cat. I have also worked with a whole bunch of Dash for Cash descendants, and I love those QHs. They can be opinionated, but they are all heart.
It is endearing that D. Wayne Lukas seems to have become a sweeter guy and better human in his golden years – not the crusty old grouch he could have become. Loss and second chances, and the routine of horses may have helped.
I love the camaraderie around Seize the Grey. Jo Anne, congratulations on being in on this cool horse! myracehorse is a great idea, and it seems to be thriving.
On Arrogate: two classic winners in consecutive years, at different distances and tracks/track ratings, different mare lines, different training styles… Arrogate’s legacy seems legitimate, however limited.
P.S. – also on bloodlines – Isn’t it also wild that Kenny McPeek’s Eskimo Kisses gets you right back to D. Wayne Lukas? She is out of Silver Colors, out of Winning Colors.
Great observations, and interesting about Eskimo Kisses.
Thanks Steve. I, too, was not aware of the early John Nerud/DWL connection. These two gentlemen, D. Wayne Lukas and Mr. Nerud belong on human side of the Mount Rushmore of American horseracing with Secretariat and Dr. Fager on the equine side.
This relationship, along with Baffert/Lukas bond, reminds me of the Charles Whittingham/Woody Stephens friendship years ago.
Question-you had mentioned once a while back that John Nerud was instrumental in developing a synthetic racing surface-was the name Tartan racing surface taken from the farm where Mr. Nerud was headquartered?
I’m guessing that Quarter Horse Nerud spotted under Lukas was Flight 109…..
Retired in 1975 had 79 starts, 25 wins…
Had to be. As of 2023, they still run a Handicap race bearing his name.
Wayne trained a bunch of good ones, he won a lot of stakes there….in 1980—the year Codex won The Santa Anita Derby… Hollywood Derby and Preakness —Wayne had the two year olds Dashingly and Justanold Love, out of Fash For Cash’s first crop…. Dashingly was special, she looked like she was foaled in Heaven….
DASH For Cash….
Mathew – Dashingly and Justanold Love were trained by Bubba Cascio.
Seeing great trainers struggle, as they age…Zito…MacAnally ( with a small stable he formed incredible careers, for several stars)…I knew Lukas had lost his sugar daddies, but he really brought his business back! With thousands of new owners I guess you could call them “sugar babies”….
Great great article, MrHaskins you are the best it was great to see you really bring out how Lucas and Baffert have helped this sport, and how jealously people are, again THANK YOU
Thanks very much, Henry.
Jealously? That’s rich!
Henry, nobody is jealous. That’s a total mirage!
Wow, what a fabulous piece, Steve. I’ve just finished re-reading it, and it was just stellar, with so many nuggets that I never knew before, not only about Nerud and Lukas, but also Kenny McPeek. It was just so heart-warming to see the pure joy on Wayne Lukas’ face after the Preakness; he was happy and proud, and so well deserved. And kudos to his young jockey, Jaime Torres – I know Wayne must’ve had agents knocking on his door to get him to change to a bigger name for the Preakness, yet he stuck to Torres – also pure Lukas. On a personal note, I must add that I’ve had a great couple of weeks because Mystik Dan was my Derby horse, and I’m one of the 2500 owners of Seize the Grey!
Thank you Beth. Congratulations. You were part of something historic.
Great piece on the connection between Lukas and John Nerud, Steve. I loved that story about Nerud spotting Lukas on the champion Quarter Horse he used as a pony and instantly knowing Wayne had an eye for quality. This was all new to me. When Lukas was at his height as a trainer, the new yorker did a bio on him with the startling anecdote that he bought many of his first horses at kill pens, literally picking horses off the conveyor belt and bringing them back to racing condition. Those who dis him for his rigorous training methods should know that he not only has an eye for a horse, he cares about giving them the chance to do what they do best.
Great stuff as always, super informative!
Great piece, the wayback machine is running on all cylinders. I wonder who wrote that piece in the Louisville Courier. Little did they know exactly what they were witnessing “The Greatest Show on Turf and Dirt” The passage of time always gives a better perspective of events. I’m just so privileged to be born at the right time to have witnessed all of it.
Thanks Derek, that was just a snippet of the quotes he gave me. It was the morning after Grindstone’s Derby win. It was just him and me at about 4:30 a.m. All his quotes are in my book Tales From the Triple Crown. It was written by the C-J’s main sports writer who still covers racing for them.
Steve, I’ve only had time to skim read your article, but will read again when I have more time, but reading the past history of Wayne Lukas and John Nerud warmed the heart and wet the eyes. Thank you.
Lump in the throat and tearing up. Feels Good!
Happy memories, most of the time. Cherished history.
Thank you for a terrific and engaging summary of two horse-racing titans, actually, 3 titans if we include you and your incredible writing! I have very fond memories of Lukas back in the day, in fact, Charismatic was my first big Derby win! Very much looking forward to the Belmont!
…make that The *Belmont!
Thats very kind of you Biggy ,thank you
It’s always the back stories that make the race and you write the best ones. Thanks for the background! By the way, I’m one of the 2,570 people that were celebrating on Saturday!
Thank you Jo Anne and congatulations