A prolific batsman for Hampshire, he scored over 2,000 runs for the county in 33 first-class appearances, which included a double century against Kent in 1884.

In a minor fixture against Norfolk he made 323 runs, which remains the highest individual score in second-class county cricket.

[4] While studying at Cambridge, Lacey made his debut in first-class cricket for Hampshire against Sussex at Hove in 1880.

[1] After graduating from Cambridge, he continued to play county cricket for Hampshire until the club lost its first-class status following the 1885 season.

During this period, Lacey made two first-class appearances for teams besides Hampshire; in 1884 he appeared for a Cambridge University Past and Present cricket team against the touring Australians at Hove and in 1885 he played for A. J. Webbe's XI against Cambridge University at Fenner's.

[3] In 1887, in a minor match against Norfolk at Southampton, Lacey made 323 not out,[7] which remains as of 2025 the highest individual score in a second-class fixture in England.

[5] Hampshire regained first-class status in 1894, with Russell Bencraft succeeding Lacey as captain.

[10] With the end of his first-class playing career in 1897, Lacey was nominated by Spencer Ponsonby-Fane to succeed the retiring Henry Perkins as MCC secretary, being appointed in 1898.

[3] Amongst his reforms were the remodelling of the MCC subcommittees and putting the business of the club on a more formal basis.

[4] In June 1909, he was instrumental in the foundation of the Imperial Cricket Council, which had been the idea of the South African Abe Bailey and bought together the governing bodies of cricket in Australia and South Africa to form a global governing body.

[17] He enjoyed a good working relationship with Lord Harris, regarded as the dominant presence on the MCC committee.

[21] He remained club president until 1946, when ill health necessitated Sir Henry Everitt to deputise for him in a meeting to discuss the resumption of cricket following the Second World War.