Even successful people have faced failures quite a few times. The best example is Bob Baffert. The trainer’s season has definitely had its fair share of highs and lows, but he recently shared something pretty unique: A job rejection from Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

During an interview for NBC Sports X profile, Baffert recalled, stating, “I called him. It was like 1970. I wrote all the things down where I was going to ask him. I was so nervous. Called him like at one in the afternoon. He’s probably taking a nap or whatever, you know? But I called him. And he was so gracious. Told him my resume real quick. And he said, you know what? You would have been perfect, but I just hired somebody just a week ago.”

That kinda rejection is painfully hard! Back in the 1970s, a young and a bit anxious Baffert decided to reach out to Lukas, looking to become part of his team. Baffert now looks back on the interaction with a smile, highlighting how gracious Lukas was during their chat, even though he was turned down. This early meeting was more than just a chance that slipped by; it kicked off a relationship that grew from admiration to mentorship and, with time, blossomed into a close friendship.

Bob Baffert and Lukas both kicked off their careers in quarter horse racing before making the switch to thoroughbreds, and they really hit it big there. Lukas, who really changed the game with his training methods, had a big impact on how Baffert approached horse racing.

Even though he got rejected, what lingered with young Bob was that pleasant interaction with Lukas. He said, “But I remember he was just so great and gracious to me that when I hung up the phone, I go, man, that guy’s great.” This impression would turn out to be really important.

Baffert always held a deep respect for Lukas. He ended up carving out his own journey, kicking things off with success in quarter horse racing. Then he made the switch to thoroughbreds and, in 2009, achieved Hall of Fame status, in the footsteps of the man who turned him down. But, here’s the thing? Baffert has recognized Lukas’ greatness before, and this isn’t the first time he’s done so.

Bob Baffert gets candid about his relationship with D Wayne Lukas

Bob Baffert really looked up to D. Wayne Lukas, and there was a flashback to that particular moment that struck young Bob. Growing up in Arizona, Baffert remembers the excitement he felt when Lukas showed up at a small local track with a fantastic setup and a lineup of winning horses.

“That was the first time I saw Wayne. I grew up in Arizona and he came in this little track we used to run at, and he came in there with these fancy trailers and these horses and won all these races, and you know, it was just a tiny track in the middle of nowhere,” said the 72-year-old trainer. Bob Baffert was simply in awe of what Lukas could do, sparking his very own desire to follow in Lukas’s footsteps in the world of horse racing.

Over the years, they kept running into each other, from rivalry to camaraderie. You could really sense the respect Bob Baffert has for Lukas when he knelt in front of him just before the Kentucky Derby. This gesture was more than just a formality; it really captured years of respect, mentorship, and a shared history.