Coach Lloyd's Legacy takes Arizona Basketball to the racetrack

In 2007, Midnight Lute – an American Sprint Horse Champion – became the first notable link between the University of Arizona men's basketball program and horse racing. The back-to-back winner of the Breeders' Cup Sprint was named in honor of Hall of Fame basketball coach Lute Olson, who left an indelible mark on Arizona basketball. During his 25-year tenure, Olson guided the Wildcats to remarkable success including a national title in 1997.

The horse Midnight Lute was owned by Paul Weitman, Karl Watson and Mike Pegram, and trained by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert – a former student in the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program. 

The nickname Midnight Lute was coined by rival University of Nevada Las Vegas coach Jerry Tarkanian, alluding to Olson's knack for securing top recruits just before signing deadlines. 

"Coach Tarkanian used to call him Midnight Lute because of his ability to bring recruits over to the Wildcats at the 11th hour," said Tommy Lloyd, current head coach of the Arizona men's basketball team. "The rivalry between Arizona and UNLV was fierce, and players like (Tom) Tolbert switched to Arizona instead of heading to UNLV."

Now, another horse has been named in honor of an Arizona basketball coach, dubbed Coach Lloyd's Legacy. As Lloyd enters his fourth season as Arizona's head coach, he has already achieved a historic milestone with 61 wins in his first two seasons – the most for any Division I head coach. 

"It's an honor to have a racehorse named after me," Lloyd said. "Having 'legacy' in the name feels right, as one of my goals is to continue to build on the legacy of our basketball program here in the Tucson community."

Though at first glance horse racing and basketball may seem worlds apart, Lloyd and horse trainer Baffert share similar philosophies in scouting talent. 

"Athleticism is key," said Baffert, whose career with thoroughbred horses spans nearly four decades. "It's about balance and speed."

Lloyd agrees. 

"I look for physical maturity and all-around talent in players," he said. “You can measure athleticism, but you can't measure heart and determination."

Yet there is one key difference between the two sports, according to Baffert: "We don't need to dunk in horse racing. Stay away from tall, lanky horses."   

Fittingly, Coach Lloyd's Legacy is sired by Arizona Moon and out of the Midnight Lute mare Miss Midnight Brew, forging yet another connection to Olson's legacy. Although still only a weanling, Coach Lloyd's Legacy carries the potential of both his namesake and his pedigree.

"I'm looking forward to following this horse and seeing what he can do on the track," Lloyd said.

Coach Lloyd’s Legacy lives at the University of Arizona’s Al Marah Equine Center and helps Race Track Industry Program students learn about breeding, young horse development, as well horse sales. 

“As part of the program the horses are born here. We raise them and sell them at a yearling sale,” said Robert Hartman, chair of the U of A Race Track Industry Program in the College of Agriculture, Life, and Environmental Sciences.

“Coach Lloyd’s Legacy will be with us for about 18 months before he goes to his new home for training to become a race horse,” he said.