'He knew everything about every one of those sires' - Wes Lanter dies aged 58

Longtime horseman Wes Lanter, who worked with the likes of Seattle Slew and Storm Cat, has died at the age of 58.

Trainer Eric Reed, a childhood friend, said that Lanter had been hospitalised in Okeechobee, Florida, following a fall and was also battling congestive heart failure.

"When he took the fall it got to where he couldn't really exercise and get around too good," he said. "I let him stay at my place that I have down there and when the hurricane [Ian] came he had gotten very ill."

Lanter got his start with thoroughbreds after Reed brought him to the farm where his father trained horses when they were high school sophomores. The following year, Lanter worked at the Kentucky Horse Park and was sold on a career in the industry

After training horses following high school, Lanter was hired at the Kentucky Horse Park and worked his way up. While there, he handled horses such as Funny Cide and John Henry.

Lanter then moved on to Spendthrift Farm, where he eventually became the stallion manager. It was there that he took care of Seattle Slew. When the 1977 Triple Crown winner moved to Three Chimneys, so did Lanter.

W.T. Young recruited Lanter to oversee Storm Cat at Overbrook Farm and stayed there until Storm Cat was pensioned in 2008. At that point, Lanter retired.

Lanter returned to the Kentucky Horse Park in 2009 to manage its Hall of Champions.

Asked to reflect on his favorite memory of Lanter, Reed said,: "There are so many stories because, you know, we were childhood friends and were pretty much together through the end.

"But stories - going to Ellis Park, running horses with my dad when we were in school, we would tell his mother that he was coming to a sleepover and he would actually go to the races."

Reed said he and Lanter discussed his legacy often during Lanter's 11-week hospitalisation. Lanter wanted to be remembered as a good horseman by the horse community and how much he loved the horses.

Reed said: "The main thing he said is he just wanted people to know he was a good person. And he was kind to everybody and he was always there to help."

When a fire destroyed Reed's Mercury Equine Center in 2016, it was Lanter who was among the first to come help him pick up the pieces and rebuild.

Reed said: "He was a funny person. But he was brilliant. He had the sharpest IQ I've ever seen and I'd say everybody that he worked for will tell you he had a photographic memory. I think that's why he was able to move up the ladder so fast.

"Besides the horsemanship as a stallion manager, when the tourists and the guests and people would come, he would throw stats just off the top of his head. He knew everything about every one of those sires."

Lanter is survived by his son, Noah.

Reed said that the plan is to hold a celebration of his life in Lexington in the new year.

For all the latest North American racing and bloodstock news, visit Bloodhorse