Fout named at Winbak

One of the sport's most successful trainer-drivers, Jeff Fout, has been named trainer of young horses owned by one of the sport's most successful breeding organizations, Winbak Farm. The announcement was made jointly by Winbak Farm's founder, Joe Thomson, and general manager, Joe McLead.

Fout, 55, a native of Grove City, Ohio, succeeds Eddie Howard, longtime Winbak trainer, who recently resigned to take a non-racing position in his home state of New York. Fout takes over his new assignment immediately at Winbak Farms' flagship location, Chesapeake City, Md.

Fout has been a top horseman for the last three decades. After starting in his youth working for top horseman Joe Marsh Jr., Fout quickly rose to become one of Ohio's top horsemen while racing at most of the Buckeye State's raceways. He has won numerous driving titles at Scioto Downs and at Raceway Park and Ohio Sire Stakes contests.

His first success came driving at the Ohio fairs in 1977 and then won the dash winning title at Raceway Park. Moving to Scioto Downs in 1985, Fout immediately won the track's driving title.

Over the years, Fout has enjoyed much success conditioning and driving a host of top 2 and 3 year olds, many of them Grand Circuit winners with both fillies and colts. His first major star was the brilliantly fast stakes winning world champion, Shady Daisy. Another outstanding filly pacer, Dawn Q, was trained and driven to numerous victories in her juvenile seasons. Other top pacers that have been linked with Fout include Dragon's Lair, Laughs, Shore Patrol, Complex Trooper, Shy Devil, Rapid Jate, Tyler's Best and Gamma Ray.

Fout has had equal success with renowned trotters such as Armbro Keepsake, T Cody, Editor In Chief and Golly Too. More recently, Fout drove Ohio Sire Stakes champion, Nathan My Boy, who now races at Dover Downs and Harrington in top class trotting events.

In 1997 the Ohio chapter of the U.S. Harness Writer's Association honored Fout with its Meritorious Award emblematic of doing the most for harness racing during the preceding two decades not only on the racetrack but for his contributions to Big Brothers/Big Sisters CEO/Media races annually held at Scioto Downs. That same season, Fout drove the winners of five Reynolds Stakes at Pocono Downs.

Fout has driven more than 4,200 winners in his career, earning more than $20 million in purses. (Winbak Farm)

« Back