Harvey L. Vanier, who saddled two winners of the Blue Grass at Keeneland
during his long training career, died December 1 in Versailles, Kentucky. He was
89.
Vanier sent out his first Keeneland winner during the 1951 fall meeting and
won 143 races at the Lexington track through the 2006 fall season. He was the
leading trainer during the 1987 spring meeting when he won seven races.
In 1983, Vanier sent out 19-1 longshot Play Fellow to win the Blue Grass. The
colt raced for Vanier’s wife, Nancy, and partners Carl Lauer and Robert Victor.
Play Fellow also won such major events as the Travers, American Derby, Arlington
Classic, and Donn Handicap.
Vanier won the Blue Grass again in 1989 with even-money favorite Western
Playboy, a son of Play Fellow bred in Illinois by the Vaniers. Nancy Vanier
raced the colt, who also won the Pennsylvania Derby and Jim Beam, with Raymond
Roncari.
Vanier’s seven Keeneland stakes wins also include the 1979 Ben Ali with
Kodiack; 1979 Fayette and 1980 Ben Ali with Architect; 1987 Keeneland Breeders’
Cup with Storm On the Loose and 1996 Alcibiades with Southern Playgirl.
The Vaniers owned Fairberry Farm in Waterloo, Illinois, and Rightaway Farm in
Woodford County, Kentucky.
Vanier’s survivors include Nancy; daughters Lyda (Brian) Vanier Williamson
and Jenny (Frank) Vanier Allen; and grandsons Brian Harvey Williamson, Samuel
Lewis Williamson, Will Lewis Allen and Luke Harvey Allen.
Vanier will be buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery in Waterloo. The visitation
will be held at the Quernheim Funeral Home in Waterloo on Friday from 4-6 p.m.
(CST) and on Saturday from 9-10 a.m. when the funeral begins.