Donato Lanni, director of bloodstock services for Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms says, “I’m a very competitive person. I like to win. Failure is not an option!”
Today Lanni is director of bloodstock services for Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms in Lexington, Ky. The 20-year thoroughbred racing veteran is considered one of the sport’s best at selecting top prospects from among thousands available each year in North America and Europe.
Lanni caught the horse racing bug growing up in Beaconsfield, Que. His father Giuseppe owned and raced harness horses at Blue Bonnets racetrack on Decarie Blvd., which closed in 2009.
“My father took me to the races, gave me the opportunities to take part,” he says. “I fell in love with it.”
Lanni knew he wanted to move on to thoroughbred racing, which is a bigger and more international business than harness racing. That door opened for him while he was studying marketing in the 1990s at what is now the John Molson School of Business.
“When I was at Concordia, there was a work abroad opportunity,” Lanni recalls. “I was going up the escalators in the Hall Building and I saw this booth with a sign to apply for J-1 entry visa, which was sponsored by Concordia.”
The J-1 is a non-immigrant visa for those participating in work- and study-based exchange programs in the United States.
“It was then that I had a vision: this could be my ticket to Kentucky.” The Blue Grass State is considered the horse-breeding centre of North America.
Through Concordia, Lanni got his work visa for a summer. “I went to Kentucky that summer right after finishing my finals — I didn’t even get to attend my graduation ceremony,” he says. “I got to Kentucky and I’ve been here ever since!”
Lanni adds: “I would never have had that opportunity without Concordia. I attribute a big part of my career to the university.”
No looking back
That career has been good to Lanni. After arriving in 1996, he worked his way up the ladder until moving to Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms in 2002. His role as director of bloodstock services includes overseeing the matings and purchases of breeding stock and stallion services.
He also works with Bob Baffert, a Triple Crown-winning horse trainer, evaluating racehorses for potential buyers. Their finds include Lookin At Lucky, which won the 2010 Preakness, and Bayern, 2014 winner of North America’s richest horse race, the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Lanni and Baffert’s discovery Mor Spirit will race at the 142nd Kentucky Derby, which will be held May 7.
Judging a young horse is an intensive process. “We watch horses for a week. We see them run and spend time with them in the barn area,” Lanni says.
“I look for physical attributes and if the animal is happy, willing to please and do what he’s asked. It’s very important how he moves.”
Lanni and Baffert discovered Mor Spirit last year at a two-year-old-in-training sale in Miami, Fla. They purchased the horse for $650,000 for owner Michael Lund Petersen. “Mor Spirit has a quality in his stride; he does it very effortlessly,” Lanni says.
“He’s raced seven times and always finished first or second. I think he’s got a great shot this weekend.”
Is he looking forward to the Derby? “Nothing is better than the Kentucky Derby,” Lanni adds.
“I’ve been to the Super Bowl and a lot of other sporting events. The Kentucky Derby is amazing. This is my fifth time racing a horse in it. It never gets old.”
What would it mean to win the Kentucky Derby? “In our business it’s the ultimate goal,” he says. “It’s America’s race but it’s also an international race event. It would mean everything to me to win.”
No matter the result, clearly Lanni already feels like a winner. “I’m very fortunate to do what I love. It’s a way of life. A passion.”
#CUalumni
Related links