[2] He learned race riding at a farm near Opelousas and started his jockey career at small unrecognized tracks.

He began to ride professionally in 1991, and won his first race on April 19 of that year at Evangeline Downs on a horse named High Hopes Banquet.

Lanerie's first graded stakes race win was the Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park in 1999.

[3] Lanerie falls within a tradition of "Cajun" jockeys who developed their riding skills in their home state prior to achieving success at major tracks, and follows in the footsteps of other Louisiana natives such as Calvin Borel, Kent Desormeaux, and Eddie Delahoussaye, each of whom was inducted into the Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

"[4] Along with his success at Churchill Downs, Lanerie has ridden six times in the Kentucky Derby, with his best finish being second aboard Lookin at Lee in 2017.