Hugh L. Fontaine

Hugh L. Fontaine
Hugh L. Fontaine
Occupation	Trainer, fighter pilot
Born	November 7, 1895; New Orleans, Louisiana
Died	June 1978 (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, 1818 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for "extraordinary heroism" while serving with the 49th Aero Squadron, 2nd Pursuit Group. [4]

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]

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

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