The Iconic D. Wayne Lukas Barn is Shutting Down

It’s hard to believe we were just here a little over a year ago, reveling in the ambiance of the legendary and historic Lukas barn —barn 44 — located near the famous “Lukas Gap” entry to the Churchill Downs track. We were there to see our Preakness winner, Seize the Grey, who turned out to be the last Triple Crown series race winner of the Lukas legacy. 

Reading this article and seeing and reading about the empty barn was emotional and heart-wrenching for us. But we are eternally grateful too, for the immense blessing of being a part of the amazing D. Wayne Lukas story that spanned decades. 

Goodbye, Coach. Thanks for the memories and for making our lifelong dreams come true. Thanks for the wondrous gift of being part of a horse who will go down in history. And thank you for welcoming us to your iconic barn to experience it firsthand. It may no longer be your barn in real life, but it will forever linger in our memory as it was that day in May 2024. 

D Wayne Lukas Barn 44 at Churchill Downs Emptied Following Death of Legendary Trainer

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/horses/horse-racing/2025/07/24/d-wayne-lukas-barn-44-at-churchill-downs-emptied-following-death/85337278007/

TRUST BUT VERIFY - Big Update!

Trust But Verify is set to have his final breeze at Highlander tomorrow morning and should be ready to ship out by early next week. 

Sadly, there has been a change of plans. Bas Nicholl, the Coach's long time assistant trainer, will not be taking over the barn from the late D. Wayne Lukas long term, as originally expected. Instead, top conditioner Kenny McPeek has been selected to train Trust But Verify. 

Kenny should need little introduction as the trainer of last year’s G1 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan and G1 Kentucky Oaks winner and Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna, as well as our Fancy Quality, and another one of our promising juvenile colts, Instant Impact.

Trust But Verify will make a stop in Kentucky en route to the McPeek barn in Saratoga. We don't expect he'll be ready to make a debut during the meet, but he'll get some good experience at the busy track while also training at Kenny's primary base for the summer.

While we are still feeling the huge loss of "Coach" -- Mr. Lukas -- we are excited by the prospects of having his good friend train our 2YO, and to have our third horse join the Kenny McPeek barn.