D. Wayne Lukas set the standard in horse racing. And the sport followed suit. Trainers wanted to be like Wayne.

Lukas died on the evening of June 28 at age 89. He was hospitalized in Louisville last week after a severe MRSA blood infection caused significant damage to the thoroughbred trainer's heart, digestive system and worsened preexisting chronic conditions, according to a statement from the Lukas family.

D. Wayne Lukas, a Hall of Fame thoroughbred horse racing trainer whose career exceeded six decades, died Saturday night at the age of 89 after battling several health problems in recent weeks.