Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Shantel Lanerie’s death at 42 saddens racing community
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Shantel Lanerie died Friday of sepsis following her treatment for Stage 1 breast cancer. She was married to Corey Lanerie, the perennial leading jockey at Churchill Downs, and her death has deeply affected many members of the racing community at Churchill and beyond.
Funeral arrangements for Lanerie, who was 42, are being handled by Melancon Funeral Home on North University Avenue in Carencro, La., where her body was being transported Monday following her death last week at a Louisville hospital.
An emotional tribute held between races Saturday at Churchill was attended by Corey Lanerie and the couple’s 10-year-old daughter, Brittlyn. They were joined by members of the family in town from Louisiana, along with the Churchill jockey colony and many other friends, horsemen, and racing officials.
“The Churchill Downs family is devastated by the sudden passing of Shantel Lanerie,” track president Kevin Flanery said in a media release shortly after her death. “This is a very sad day.”
Social media was flooded with messages of condolence. Typical of the posts was one on Instagram from Tiffany Bourque, a longtime friend who works in the Churchill racing office.
“Heaven gained the strongest, most beautiful angel,” she wrote. “Words can never express how much we all love you.”
On May 4, Shantel was one of 144 women who took part in the annual Survivors’ Parade on Kentucky Oaks Day at Churchill. Her story was told on the Big Board throughout the day and also was spotlighted in triumphant fashion by numerous media outlets, including Daily Racing Form, due to her prominence in the racing community. Jockeys at Churchill and other North American tracks that day wore pink armbands that read “Fight With Shantel.” Those bands resurfaced Friday at Churchill as word spread that her life was in peril.
Shantel was raised in Cecilia, La., as the daughter of trainer Riley Hebert and his wife, Katie. She and Corey met in his first year of riding at the old Evangeline Downs site in Carencro in 1991, and they were married in April 1997. Before Brittlyn’s birth in 2008, Shantel worked various racetrack jobs, including as a clocker’s assistant, a mutuel clerk, and a photographer’s assistant. In her later years, she and Brittlyn often attended the races and were known to be Corey’s greatest source of support.
Corey Lanerie has been the leading jockey at Churchill for 15 of the last 17 meets, dating to the 2012 spring meet. He also has been the leading jockey at other tracks, including Keeneland and Ellis Park, after having dominated at Louisiana and Texas tracks prior to moving to Kentucky in 2005.
As of Monday, the date and time for funeral services had yet to be determined. Burial will take place in the Evangeline Memorial Gardens, which is adjacent to the funeral home and is the site of an old bush track, Carenco Raceway. A memorial service at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Louisville, where Brittlyn attends school, is being planned for a later date.
Three stakes on closing day
Using an accelerated draw schedule to more easily facilitate the move to Ellis Park for racing-office staff this week, fields are already set for the three stakes on the 12-race closing-day card Saturday at Churchill Downs. Here is a quick rundown: Grade 3, $100,000 Bashford Manor (race 11): A bulky field of 13 2-year-old colts and geldings is entered in the 117th running of this six-furlong fixture, with the New York-bred Tales of Chaucer likely to vie for favoritism after earning an 84 Beyer Speed Figure in a flashy debut at Belmont Park. Other major considerations include Shanghaied Roo, Weiland, Sir Truebador, and Toothless Wonder.
$100,000 Debutante (race 7): The filly counterpart to the Bashford Manor did not come up as deep or as strong, and a field of nine is entered in the 118th running of this sixfurlong race. Likely favorites include Restless Rider, Shanghai Rain, and O’Keeffe.
$75,000 Kelly’s Landing (race 10): Chief Cicatriz, who earned a gaudy 110 Beyer in winning the June 2 Aristides, drew the favorable outside post in a field of 10 older horses in this seven-furlong race. Warrior’s Club, Mr. Crow, and C Z Rocket are among the opposition.
Before Saturday, when all gimmick wagers including the Single 6 will be subject to mandatory disbursements, an 11-race card will be run here Friday. First post for the last two days is 12:45 p.m. Eastern.
Ellis opens its 31-day summer meet Sunday and will be using a three-day schedule (FridaySunday) through meet’s end on Sept. 3.
3-day week starts Thursday
The final three-day stretch of the 38-day spring meet starts with a Twilight Thursday card highlighted by three allowances, including two in which the likely favorites are Grade 3 winners over the Churchill turf.
Will Call, winner of the Grade 3 Twins Spires Turf Sprint on the May 4 Kentucky Oaks undercard, is the 6-5 morning-line choice in race 3, a $64,000 classified allowance at 5 1/2 furlongs. The 4-year-old colt is trained by Brad Cox for Klein Racing.
Sweeping Paddy, winner of the Grade 3 Regret a little more than a year ago, will make her first start in 11 months as the 2-1 program choice in race 6, a $62,000, second-level allowance at 1 1/8 miles. The 4-yearold filly is trained by Dale Romans for Frank Jones and partners.
A third allowance, a $59,500, first-level main-track route for 3-year-olds, goes as race 7. All three allowances are part of a Single 6 sequence (races 3-8) that offers a carryover jackpot of $30,454. First post for the eight-race card is 5 p.m.