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(D. Wayne Lukas at Ellis Park in 2021. Jennie Rees photo)
HENDERSON, Ky. (Thursday, July 24, 2025) — Sunday’s Kentucky HBPA College Day, presented by Ellis Park, has added a twist for eligible industry participants or their children who are full-time college students: The Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association is doubling its last race scholarship to $2,000 to honor the transformative trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who died June 28 at age 89.
The D. Wayne Lukas Memorial scholarship will be given via drawing to an industry participant or their child enrolled in college full-time for the summer or upcoming fall term. Full-time students involved in the thoroughbred industry as trainers, owners, jockeys, exercise riders, backstretch help, blacksmiths, veterinarians, vendors etc. or their college-enrolled children are eligible for the drawing to be held before Sunday’s 10th and final race. (Employees of Ellis Park or Churchill Downs Inc. and their children are not eligible. Workers at tracks not owned by CDI and their children remain eligible.)
Ellis Park added a 10th race to Sunday’s racing program, meaning there will be a total of 30 prizes given away. There will be one drawing apiece for a $1,000 scholarship (a check made out to the winner), an iPad Mini/airPods package and a $150 Amazon gift card about 15 minutes before each of the first nine races. The prizes for the 10th race are restricted to those connected to the thoroughbred industry, utilizing a separate set of drawings.
Kentucky HBPA vice president John Hancock, a third-generation Ellis Park-based trainer, suggested making the industry scholarship $2,000 in honor of Lukas’ career contributions, including mentoring generations of young horsemen and horsewomen. That includes Hancock’s son, Matt Hillyard, who was set to work this summer for Lukas at Ellis Park before the trainer’s death. Hillyard, himself a college student, will present the $2,000 check to the winner.
“There will never be another trainer like D. Wayne Lukas,” Hancock said. “Wayne did so much to bring younger generations into horse racing and to mentor aspiring trainers. Matt, myself and our family became very close to Wayne and his wife Laurie during their summer stabled at Ellis Park in 2021. We’re devastated by Wayne’s passing, an incalculable loss for the industry — not for what his horses did on the track but even more so what he did off of it. This D. Wayne Lukas scholarship serves to remind us of Wayne’s lasting contributions.”
First post is 11:50 a.m. Central. Full-time students can register throughout the afternoon to be eligible for any remaining drawings. Sunday also is Kentucky HBPA Dollar Day, with $1 hotdogs.
Representatives from the University of Kentucky’s Ag Equine programs, the University of Louisville’s Equine Industry Program and the Kentucky Equine Management Internship (KEMI) are participating to provide information to current and future undergraduate and graduate students interested in a career in the horse industry or interested in taking elective courses.
A valid college I.D. or letter of admission is required to register for the drawings, with incoming freshmen welcome. Those attending or enrolled for the fall term (including online) at a two- or four-year college, graduate school, professional school, vocational, technical, barber or another post-high school program that qualifies for federal aid are eligible. Students must register in person, be present to win and can only enter once.
Those signing up for the industry prizes must show a current Kentucky racing license or be able to establish their parent’s connection to the industry. Industry winners must sign up in person but do not have to be present to win (in acknowledgement that they might be working). Those in the industry drawings cannot participate in the general drawings.
Ellis Park Racing & Gaming is located at 3300 Highway 41 North, Henderson KY.
More information here. |
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