By Mike Kane
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas is recovering from heart procedures in a Philadelphia hospital and is expected to be released later this week.
In a text to TDN and the Louisville Courier-Journal Wednesday afternoon, Lukas's wife, Laurie, said he had received four stents and a pacemaker at the Aria Health- Torresdale hospital. She said that they hope to return to their home in Louisville. this weekend. More than likely, Lukas, 80, will miss the first running of the Lukas Classic Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Lukas began feeling lightheaded and dizzy on Friday, Sept. 18, the day before he was scheduled to run Mr. Z in the Pennsylvania Derby and champion Take Charge Brandi in the Cotillion at Parx in Bensalem, Pa. He did not attend the races that day and eventually followed advice that he should be examined at a nearby hospital. He was admitted and the procedures took place this week.
In a lengthy story in the TDN that ran on his birthday, Sept. 2, Lukas said that he had never smoked or drank alcohol, enjoyed fine health and noted that his mother lived to be 94. Renowned for his work ethic, Lukas gets up at 3:30 a.m. daily to train his horses. Earlier this week, Lukas told the Philadelphia Daily News, that this was the first time he had seen a doctor in 60 years.
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