Laura Pinelli is known as the wife of D. Wayne Lukas, whose full name was Darrell Wayne Lukas who died on June 28, 2025, at the age of 89 in Louisville, Kentucky, US, at his home.
Her husband was married five times. His wife was Janet Lukas, who worked as an assistant trainer. They had a son named Jeff Lukas.
His fifth wife was Laura Pinelli. They married in 1998. He was survived by his grandchildren named Brady Lukas and Kelly Lukas Roy; four great-grandchildren: Walker Lukas, Quinn Lukas, Jonathan Roy, and Thomas Roy; his sister, Dauna Lukas Moths; and his brother, Lowell Lukas.
Her husband, Wayne Lukas, was an American horse trainer and U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee. He was born on September 2, 1935, in Antigo, Wisconsin, US, and he won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, and several Breeders’ Cup races including: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint, Breeders’ Cup Sprint, Breeders’ Cup Turf Mile, Breeders’ Cup Distaff, and Breeders’ Cup Classic.
He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison with a master’s degree.
He also worked as a teacher at Logan High School in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he was a head basketball coach. He started training quarter horses in California in 1968. He won the Preakness Stakes on Codex in 1980 and gained popularity. He earned $100 million in his career.
He received various awards, including the United States Racing Hall of Fame (1999), the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame (2007), and the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer (1985).
His family said, “It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved husband, grandfather, and great-grandfather … Wayne devoted his life not only to horses but to the industry—developing generations of horsemen and horsewomen and growing the game by inviting unsuspecting fans into the winner’s circle… His final days were spent at home in Kentucky, where he chose peace, family, and faith.”
Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen said, “We will miss his humor, his wisdom, and his unmatched capacity to thrill the fans with the performances of his horses on our sport’s biggest days.”
Bob Baffert (via X/Social Media): “Wayne was a game changer, transforming horse racing for the better. … He created a system of flying his horses coast to coast… He developed the blueprint the rest of us still follow. He was a true visionary.”
Dale Romans, trainer & KHBA president, said, “We are heartbroken but also are tremendously grateful that horse racing had Wayne for as long as we did…”
