America's Best Racing. The Jockey Club.

There are very few things that Lukas has failed to accomplish during his distinguished career in American Thoroughbred racing. The Antigo, Wis., native is the leading trainer in Breeders' Cup history with 19 victories and more than $20 million in purses; is tied with Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons for the most victories in the Triple Crown series, 13, four of them in the Kentucky Derby ; was the first trainer to reach $100 million and $200 million in earnings; has trained 24 champions, three of them Horse of the Year (Lady's Secret in 1986, Criminal Type in 1990 and Charismatic in 1999); led North American trainers in earnings 14 times; and was elected to the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame in 1999.

Lukas earned a master's degree in education at the University of Wisconsin, where he worked as an assistant basketball coach for two years. He became a teacher and head basketball coach in high school for nine years, including a seven-year stint in LaCrosse, Wis. During the summers, he trained and raced horses in South Dakota before turning to training Quarter Horses full time. He trained some Thoroughbreds during the years he was principally involved with Quarter Horses. Before turning to Thoroughbreds in 1978, he developed 23 Quarter Horse champions.

Along with his remarkable success at the races, Lukas has been known for the many fine young assistant trainers he has mentored and have gone on to become great successes in their own right: Todd Pletcher, Kiaran McLaughlin, Dallas Stewart, Mark Hennig, Randy Bradshaw, Mike Maker, George Weaver and Bobby Barnett. 

He won the 2012 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint with Hightail to extend his record-setting mark to 19 wins in the championship event. In 2013, Lukas qualified two horses for the Kentucky Derby and had a 1-2 finish in the Rebel Stakes with Will Take Charge and Oxbow, his two Derby entries. Lukas is also sending Pure Fun forward in the Kentucky Oaks.