Report: Nicholl will not take over Lukas horses as planned

Sebastian "Bas" Nicholl will not take over training of D. Wayne Lukas's horses as planned.

Nicholl told Daily Racing Form that he has decided not to pursue a career as a trainer, though he does plan to continue as an assitant.

Lukas's family announced his retirement after he was diagnosed with severe health problems on June 22, and he died June 28. In the retirement announcement, Lukas's family said Nicholl, who joined Lukas's team in 2002, would assume command of Lukas' stable, "maintaining the Lukas name until the family can smoothly transition the company to Bas's full control."

Nicholl told DRF that it was a personal decision and that he didn't want to discuss it. He said it was "very amicable."

He said Lukas's final horses are being dispersed to other trainers, and the last of the left Lukas's Churchill Downs barn Tuesday, according to the report.

Nicholl said he has received offers to work as an assistant and will consider those later. For now, he said, he is helping the Lukas family with estate matters, according to the report.

BC Stables is sending 15 horses to Steve Asmussen, according to the DRF report.

Calumet Farm has moved horses trained by Lukas to Eoin Harty, Rusty Arnold and Brendan Walsh, racing manager Eddie Kane told DRF.