Columnist Ralph Siraco: MGM’s Lanni has personal stake in Breeders’ Cup

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Nov. 1, 1999 | 9:41 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday, and his Southern California selections run Tuesday through Friday on the scoreboard page. Write to him c/o Las Vegas Sun, 800 S. Valley View Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89107.

When the Breeders' Cup is renewed for the 16th time on Saturday, Las Vegas will once again host a citywide party to celebrate the Sport of Kings' championship day.

And once again, in true Vegas fashion, the party will be second to none as this gaming capital joins America in going to the races. In its short history, the Breeders' Cup has become the third-largest single-day sporting event in Las Vegas -- surpassed by only the Super Bowl and Kentucky Derby.

This year, however, the Las Vegas connection to the Breeders' Cup will be more than simulcasting the big day of races to packed ballrooms of party-going horseplayers with what is certain to be a record-breaking pari-mutuel participation.

This year, the MGM Grand, known as the "City of Entertainment" could become the "City of Celebration" before the NBC national telecast gets to the main event.

And it all depends on the fate of a French-bred colt by the name of Silic.

When the horses take to the track for the Breeders' Cup Mile -- the third event of the eight-race championship card -- Silic will be carrying the colors of a trio of Las Vegas' own. And if he wins the most demanding Breeders' Cup turf event, Silic's image could be shining on the same marquee as Tommy Tune's EFX.

You see, Silic counts Terry Lanni, Chairman of MGM Grand, Inc., as one of his owners, along with Claudine Williams, who sits on the board of Harrah's, and Avis Jansen, former proprietor of the Boardwalk hotel-casino.

For Lanni, who has accomplished almost everything in gaming, this will be his first Breeders' Cup starter in a sport that has held his passion for a lifetime.

Lanni's father bred and raised horses, so Terry's fascination for the equine was, as they say, in the blood. And while most of us were heading to the track with dad in hopes of getting our first "show bet" in the last at Santa Anita, Terry -- along with his siblings -- were claiming their first in the last at Santa Anita.

Lanni recalls that first horse with the same vivid memory as a first love. It was in 1965 and her name was Suzie's Swinger.

"We claimed her for $2,500 and she promptly won back for $4,000, then for $6,250 and finally for $8,000 before we lost her," Lanni said.

As he put it, "What a way to get hooked to the game." His participation as an owner continued through 1975, when he dropped out of the business to pursue his profession.

Lanni soon rose to be president of Caesars World, Inc., in April of 1981 and his contributions to the company led to the most valuable and recognizable brand name in all of gaming. His vision brought the highly successful Forum Shops to the flagship property in Las Vegas. While at the helm of Caesars, he started dabbling again with the thoroughbreds in 1984 and by the time he left his post in February 1995, he had also returned to the breeding game.

After Lanni accepted the position of president of the MGM Grand in April 1995, he soon began the transformation of the lagging Emerald City into the highly successful City of Entertainment. Under his leadership, the MGM Grand has enjoyed a remarkable --but predictable -- turnaround.

As Lanni oversaw the retooling of the Grand, he teamed up with gaming executive Mike Sloan of Mandalay Resorts, Inc., and Bernie Schiappa in purchasing a promising 3-year-old named Ladies Din. Popular Southern California trainer Julio Canani was tabbed by the partnership to handle the tutoring of the Florida-bred.

While Lanni was serving the gaming industry well as a member of the National Gambling Impact Study Commission, Ladie's Din had reeled off six stakes victories in 1998, including a sweep of all three Del Mar grass stakes for sophomores.

Ladie's Din had proved his worth in challenging the division in last year's Breeders' Cup, but did not make the show. They respectfully passed this year's edition with him as well, instead sending the promising Silic to carry the honor.

Silic is grandson of Blushing Groom out of a Sadler's Well mare and is also trained by Canani, who has brought the 4-year-old to the sport's summit. Silic boasts victories in the Grade II Shoemaker Mile on the Hollwood Park lawn and the recent Grade III Oak Tree Mile on the Santa Anita sod. Canani will certainly bring some knowledge from his only Breeders' Cup appearance in 1990 (13th with Colway Rally in the Mile).

Lanni knows that the fortunes of racing are as fleeting as a good run on the tables at a casino.

That the draw for post positions can seal the fate of victory three days before the actual competition.

That a misstep or a miscue can easily end the dreams as quickly as a turn of a card.

But Lanni has mastered gaming and knows the risks as well as the rewards. And with a trio of broodmares at Vinery Stud and interest in at least 16 more runners he will return -- win, lose or draw.

There will be a party at the MGM Grand on Saturday to celebrate the triumphs of the newly crowned champions on their championship day, and the toast from Suzie's Swinger to Silic waits on a mile of precious South Florida green for a man who is bred in the purple.