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]
| 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: | |
| Honors | |
| Distinguished Service Cross | |
| Significant horses | |
| Handcuff, Needles, Market Wise | |
Born in New Orleans, Hugh Fontaine grew up in Memphis, Tennessee.
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]
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.
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 StableofIsabel Dodge Sloane.[5] Among his successes while there, he conditioned Handcuff to 1938 American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly honors.[6]
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