Lila Lanning, who with her husband, Curt, was a major owner and breeder in California, died March 15 in Mesa, Ariz. She was 82.
The Lannings succeeded on the racetrack with a combination of homebreds and purchases at public auction. Ed Moger trained many of their stakes winners, including $657,027-earner Qiaona, $344,313-earner Gentle Charmer, $429,437-earner Phaenna, and $289,354-earner Zoning In, all California-breds.
Their leading homebred earner was Tribal Storm, a 2014 Cal-bred gelded son of Papa Clem—Tribal Feathers, by Tribal Rule. Claimed away for $62,500 in 2018, Tribal Storm for the Lannings and with Moger training won the 2017 Harris Farms Stakes and 2018 Lost in the Fog Stakes and finished third in the 2017 El Camino Real Derby (G3).
The Lannings purchased Qiaona for only $4,500 at the 2011 Barretts California Cup Yearling Sale, and she went on to win the 2013 California Breeders Champion Stakes and California Distaff Handicap for them. Gentle Charmer cost them $17,000 at the 2003 Barretts October Sale of Preferred Yearlings and won the 2007 California Cup Distaff Handicap.
Frequent buyers at the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Northern California Yearling Sale, the Lannings purchased Inspiration Within there for $11,000 in 2005 and Legal Separation at the same sale in 2008 for $2,000. Both became stakes-placed and earned six figures.
"The nature of the horse business is that you survive long enough to get a really good horse, or you simply have to be lucky," Lila said in 2017. "You can pay $1 million for a yearling and only earn $12,500 with them. There's no magic system. Now, if you could look into the horse's heart to see if they have the heart to run, well, that would make a big difference."
Lila Lanning was born in San Diego in 1939 and moved with her family as a young child to California's Bay Area. She graduated high school from Fremont High School in Sunnyvale, Calif., and became a secretary at the school. She was chosen as Ms. National Guard in a local pageant in 1957.
Thoroughbred racing and golf were two of Lanning's passions, and she also was devoted to her family and her dogs. She frequently gave back to the community and supported the Humane Society and the Wounded Warrior Project.
Lanning, who had a son, Chris Bortolin, from her first marriage, married Curt in 1980 and became a stepmother to Curt's three children. She was an avid seamstress and often made holiday outfits for her grandchildren.
The Lannings, who met at a bowling alley while playing in different leagues, owned hundreds of horses throughout their 40-year marriage. The Thoroughbred Owners of California honored them with the Chairman's Award in 2002.
Lanning was preceded in death by her father, Charles Flick; her mother, Geneva Bradley; son Chris Bortolin; and stepson Craig Lanning. In addition to her husband, her survivors include her sister, Anita Bardsley; her stepchildren, Connie Holdampf and Paul Lanning; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society or the Wounded Warrior Project.
