Del Mar’s Lanni Dead at 68

By July 15, 2011

J. Terrence Lanni was co-owner of the 1999 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Silic

The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s J. Terrence Lanni has died  at age 68. Lanni, who had been a member of the DMTC’s board of directors since 2001, passed away July 14 at his home in Pasadena, Calif., after a long battle with cancer.

Lanni was also the former chairman and CEO of MGM Mirage, having  joined MGM Grand Inc. on June 1, 1995, as CEO and a member of the board of directors. In July 1995 he was named chairman and CEO and in May of 2000 oversaw the acquisition of Mirage Resorts by MGM Grand Inc., thereby creating MGM Mirage, the Las Vegas-based entertainment, hotel and gaming giant. He announced his retirement in November, 2008.

Prior to his MGM tenure, Lanni served 18 years in senior executive positions with Caesars World Inc.  Before joining Caesars in 1977, Lanni was treasurer of the California-based Republic Corporation.

A native of Los Angeles and graduate of USC, Lanni received the Alumnus of the Year Award from the school in 1992. He served on the board of trustees of Santa Clara University, the board of directors at K.B. Homes and was chairman of the board of the American Gaming Association. In October of 2000 he was inducted into the Gaming Hall of Fame and the following January was the recipient of Casino Journal’s 2001 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Lanni’s horse racing background dated to his years at USC when he was partners with a brother and sister in Greenhill Stable, which had claiming horses with L.J. Brooks and Charles Comiskey. Lanni’s father, Anthony, also bred and raced in California before his death in 1969.

Lanni escorts Game On Dude and jockey Chantal Sutherland into the winner's circle at the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap in March. (Benoit Photo)

Lanni escorts Game On Dude and jockey Chantal Sutherland into the winner's circle at the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap in March. (Benoit Photo)

Lanni was co-owner of the 1999 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Silic, and Ladies Din, eighth in the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Mile. Ladies Din, trained by Julio Canani, was the 1998 Horse of the Meeting at Del Mar via a sweep of the major 3-year-old stakes, taking a division of the Oceanside Stakes, the La Jolla Handicap and the Del Mar Derby. Two years later, Ladies Din won the Grade I Eddie Read Handicap.

“We have lost a fine man and I’ve lost a dear friend,” DMTC CEO, president and general manager Joe Harper said. “Terry had great insights into both the gaming business and the racing world and we were lucky to have him on board with us this past decade. He will be dearly missed.”

Funeral and memorial service plans are pending.

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