Shantel Lanerie central figure in Oaks Day breast cancer fundraising effort

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Corey Lanerie has been the leading jockey at 15 of the last 17 meets conducted at Churchill Downs, but it will be his wife of 21 years, Shantel, who will have the brightest spotlight here on Kentucky Oaks Day.

Shantel Lanerie has been diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer, and her recovery efforts will be recognized in a big way during the track’s annual Oaks Day push to raise research funds for and increase awareness of breast cancer.

Lanerie will be one of 144 women walking Friday in the Survivors Parade, which takes place on the racetrack prior to the 144th Oaks. She will be greeted by her husband and other jockeys upon entering the paddock runway at the end of the walk. Throughout the day, jockeys riding at Churchill and nearly a dozen other North American tracks will be wearing pink bands around their legs that read, “Fight With Shantel,” and a video relating her story will be shown on the big board and throughout the Churchill simulcast network. Similar efforts to demonstrate support for Lanerie were undertaken recently at Keeneland during its “Horses and Hope Pink Day.”

It’s all for a worthy cause, as Churchill has maximized the high visibility of Oaks Day for the last decade to support breast cancer research. Many fans once again will support the “Pink Out” theme by wearing pink attire, and numerous other support initiatives will be taking place. To donate, or for further details: www.kentuckyderby.com/visit/derby-week/oaks/survivors-parade.