Managing Partners
The Canuck Racing Club is managed by three partners who have been friends since they were kids and grew up just a few streets apart.
DONATO LANNI
Donato is Canuck Racing Club’s exclusive bloodstock agent (buyer and seller) and shot caller for all horse-related decisions. He is quite literally one the best in the business when it comes to identifying and buying winning thoroughbreds. The New York Times heralded him as “one of the most sought-after thoroughbred scouts in North America”. The Thoroughbred Daily News called him “one of the most inspired horsemen of his generation.” He has found legendary champions and future ones that are winning today.
Donato’s selections have won the Kentucky Derby, Dubai World Cup, Saudi Derby, six Breeder’s Cups (a year-end international championship when the best horses in the world race), Canada’s Queen’s Plate, seven Eclipse Awards for outstanding achievement in North America, two Sovereign Awards, and two Horse of the Year awards honor bestowed by consensus of the industry’s top players. Put simply, virtually everyone who is serious in this industry knows Donato. His clients are among the industry’s highest profile owners and include several billionaires. You can explore his stellar finds, current runners, and media coverage on lannibloodstock.com.
Donato holds a BCom in Business from Concordia University. As the Canuck Racing Club’s exclusive bloodstock agent (buyer and seller) and shot caller for all horse-related decisions, he is the author of our club’s story.
MARK HALLORAN
Mark founded Cobblestone Human Capital and developed it into an HR optimization and on-demand recruitment firm trusted by some of Canada’s top employers. In 2010, he co-founded Career Lion Inc., one of North America’s highest value providers of leadership development, career branding, and business advisory solutions with clients in Fortune 500s, leading organizations, and SMEs across North America (careerlion.com).
Friends since elementary school, Mark and Donato played on the same hockey, rugby, and football teams in their high school years. Lanni’s passion for thoroughbreds was evidently contagious as Mark has been alongside him at races for over 35 years from Blue Bonnets to Saratoga, to Queen’s Plates, Breeder’s Cups, and Kentucky Derbies. Prior to co-founding Canuck Racing Club, Mark organized five syndicates in Canada that owned one horse at a time.
Mark holds a BA in Political Science from St FX University. As a serial networker and passionate connector of good people, he is propelling our club’s story and assembling it’s cast of characters.
ROB VAN BLOKLAND
Co-founder of Career Lion and a business partner of Halloran’s since 2007, Rob is a trusted advisor to entrepreneurs and executives in industry-leading companies and government. Leveraging a strong business acumen and proficiency in strategic planning, he is a marketing, branding, and communications specialist whose strategies and solutions have benefited organizations including DaimlerChrysler, Mazda, Universal, TAG, Bombardier, and BMG-Sony. Rob met Mark and Donato in elementary school and was a teammate of Lanni’s for years on soccer fields.
No stranger to unconventional paths and producing entertaining experiences, Rob was formerly a recording artist who toured Canada and Europe, released Top 40 hits, shared stages with top acts, produced for major labels, penned songs for Idols, and earned gold and platinum sales awards.
Rob holds a BCom in Marketing and Contractual Law from Concordia University. While concurrently optimizing club operations and administration, Rob will be telling the Canuck Racing Club story from our behind-the-scenes communications to external branding and PR.