By Michael Fenrich
Sunday, June 28, 2026, marked one year since the late, great Hall of Fame trainer Mr. D. Wayne Lukas passed away. I used to hot walk at the Lukas barn at Belmont Park in the mid 1990s and have many fond memories of my short time there.
I am very grateful for Mr. Lukas giving me the opportunity to work at the stable and help the equine athlete. One of the equine athletes that I walked was the late, great Lord Carson. Lord Carson was a favorite of mine and I will always remember when he pulled me to his water bucket. I am always proud when I see offspring from Lord Carson run at other tracks.
Even though Mr. Lukas has passed on, I still feel his presence around as he is guiding me from above. Before he passed away last year, I would still call him regularly and give him updates on my life progress. I always enjoyed our phone calls.
In my daily life I always reflect on my time at the Lukas stable and will never forget the time I had at the barn and walking the majestic horses. I am very grateful for the hotwalkers that I made friends with and that they taught me.
It is only one year that Mr. Lukas is gone. Mr. Lukas is still guiding me each day because he gave me the opportunity to walk the horses.
Michael Fenrich of Malverne, New York, is a graduate of and employee at Nassau Community College.
