Homecoming Classic renamed in honor of Lukas

The former Homecoming Classic is being renamed to salute Lukas'

accomplishments, contributions and influence on Churchill Downs, the Kentucky

Derby and Oaks, and the horse industry. The native of Antigo, Wisconsin, will

celebrate his 80th birthday on September 2. The race that now carries his name

will be run for the third time on September 26. Reigning Breeders' Cup Classic

winner Fort Larned won its first running in 2013 and subsequently finished

fourth at Santa Anita in his bid for a repeat Classic victory. The race was won

last year by Cigar Street, who would finish seventh in the Classic at Santa

Anita.

Lukas, who bases his stable at Churchill Downs Barn 44 through much of the

year, has won a record 14 victories in Triple Crown races, and trained a record

20 winners of Breeders' Cup races. He earned four Eclipse Awards that honored

him as the nation's top trainer. At Churchill Downs, Lukas ranks second in

career stakes victories (73) and fourth in total wins (510).

"Along with the enormity of the numbers of his total victories, the stakes

races he has won and earnings by his stable's horses throughout his Hall of Fame

career, D. Wayne Lukas forever changed both the Kentucky Derby and North

America's horse industry," said Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs. "It

is Churchill Downs' honor to salute Wayne Lukas by placing his name on this

race. We are enthusiastic about the potential of the Lukas Classic and believe

it will very soon be an important annual stop for older horses who are working

to prepare for and earn starting spots in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

"We think the presence of Wayne Lukas' name on this race will enhance its

attractiveness and its status. And we would love to see Mr. Lukas do one of the

few things he has yet to do during his legendary career. Our team at Churchill

Downs is confident that Wayne is a long way from entertaining any thoughts of

retirement, and we hope that he will soon saddle a winner of this race, which

would allow him -- for the first time -- to present a winner's trophy to

himself."

The first races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Road to the Kentucky

Oaks headline four stakes events on September 12, the first of three Saturdays

of racing during the September Meet. Along with the Pocahontas and Iroquois,

that program will feature the $100,000 Locust Grove, for fillies and mares on

the main track, and the $100,000 Open Mind, which matches fillies and mares at

six furlongs.

Along with the opportunity to collect the first points in the systems that

will determine the starters in the 2016 Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks,

the Iroquois and Pocahontas provide their winners with a guaranteed starting

spot in Breeders' Cup races in their divisions.

The racing program on September 19 features the $100,000 Dogwood (G3) for

three-year-old fillies at seven furlongs.

The final Saturday of September Meet racing on September 26 will offer three

stakes events in the Lukas Classic, the $100,000 Ack Ack H. (G3) for

three-year-olds and up at one mile, and the $100,000 Jefferson Cup (G3) for

three-year-olds at one mile on the turf -- the only stakes race on grass during

the meet.

Only two of the eight stakes races in September have changed from last year's

schedule. Along with the new name for the Lukas Classic, the purse for the race

was boosted by $50,000 to $175,000. The purse for the Iroquois also was

increased by $50,000.

After the September racing session, Churchill Downs will have one remaining

race meet in 2015. The track's traditional Fall Meet is scheduled for November

1-29, which will offer 21 racing dates on a weekly Thursday-through-Sunday

schedule.

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