Hugh L. Fontaine

Hugh L. Fontaine
Occupation	Trainer, fighter pilot
Born	(1895-11-07)November 7, 1895 New Orleans, Louisiana
Died	June 1978(1978-06-00) (aged 82)
Major racing wins
Suburban Handicap (1934) Acorn Stakes (1938) Alabama Stakes (1938) Delaware Oaks (1938) New England Oaks (1938) Diana Stakes (1942, 1943, 1957) Hopeful Stakes (1955) Sapling Stakes (1955) Flamingo Stakes (1956) Florida Derby (1956) Fort Lauderdale Handicap (1957) Black Helen Handicap (1958) U.S. Triple Crown series: Kentucky Derby (1956) Belmont Stakes (1956)
Honors
Distinguished Service Cross
Significant horses
Handcuff, Needles, Market Wise

Hugh L. Fontaine (November 7, 1895 – June 1978) was an American fighter pilot during World War I and a Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He was the trainer of the winning horse Needles in the 1956 Kentucky Derby and the 1956 Belmont Stakes.[1][2]

Born in New Orleans, Hugh Fontaine grew up in Memphis, Tennessee.

Military career

During World War I Lieutenant Fontaine served in France with the United States Army Air Force.[3] By an Act of Congress, on July 9, 1918, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for "extraordinary heroism" while serving with the 49th Aero Squadron, 2nd Pursuit Group. [4]

Personal life

After returning from service, Lieutenant Fontaine married Elizabeth Martin Donelson on April 22, 1929 in Shelby County, Tennessee. They had no children and soon separated.

Thoroughbred racehorse trainer

Fontaine worked as stable manager for William R. Coe before 1937 when he took over from Robert Smith as the head trainer for the Brookmeade Stable of Isabel Dodge Sloane.[5] Among his successes while there, he conditioned Handcuff to 1938 American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly honors.[6]

References

1. "The Kentucky Derby". Si.com. 1956-05-07. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
2. "Winnipeg Free Press Archives, May 17, 1956, p. 29". Newspaperarchive.com. 1956-05-17. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
3. "Derby Countdown - 1956 - Needles". The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky). 2015-02-09. Retrieved 2019-07-27.
4. "Hugh L. Fontaine". Sightline Media Group. 2019-07-28. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
5. "Thoroughbred Horses Arrive At Anita Barns". San Bernardino Sun (California). 1935-11-14. Retrieved 2019-07-27.
6. "Handcuff Outstanding Three-Year Old Filly". Chester Times (Chester, Pennsylvania). 1938-09-08. Retrieved 2019-07-28.