On August 16 Paul Fout passed away. The world was alerted that one of their greatest horsemen had gone, while Middleburg and its surrounds mourned the loss of a leader and a friend. Mr. Fout was 78. By the end of his life Paul Fout could look back and see, objectively enough, that he had accomplished much. As a horse trainer he had racked up 236 race wins, $4 million in purses, and various and sundry awards. As a human he had accomplished even more. When asked what his friend and partner at the Middleburg Training Track would have considered his greatest accomplishment Lewis Wiley doesn't miss a beat. "His family. Without a doubt that's what he was most proud of." Who wouldn't be. Mr. Fout's wife of 53 years, Eve Prime Fout, is a renowned artist, and Master of the M.O.C. Beagles. His daughter Nina Fout is a Three Day Event rider with an Olympic medal and countless other awards and accolades to her name. Son Doug Fout follows in father's footsteps as a winning horse trainer. Daughter Virginia Wiley Fout lives in Los Angeles. They are a family with an independent streak. Everyone in town seems to know at least one of them, even if just as a leader in whatever equestrian field they're in (they seem to have just about all those bases covered). And everyone, not just their patriarch, admires them – is proud to count them amongst their neighbors. So why wouldn't Paul Fout count them as his finest achievement?

Still, outside of a fun and full family life Paul Fout managed to build a successful life amongst horses, one he was born into. He was originally from Syracuse, NY where his parents ran a riding school. It surprises some who only knew him for his decades long career as a racehorse trainer that he started out riding show hunters and jumpers. Indeed it was this pursuit that brought him to Virginia, showing at the Warrenton and Upperville horse shows. According to long time friend and associate Sheila Sisk at one point in his horse showing career he fell and suffered broken bones and thought to himself, "Boy this dumb." This was said of course with his typical sense of humor. No one who knew Mr. Fout for any length of time can talk about him without referring to his charm and his humor. In any case, having decided that horse showing was not for him he turned his attentions to Eve Prime, his wife from Warrenton whom he met on the local show circuit, and to training thoroughbred race horses.

As with any race trainer's careers there were a many winners, some losers and a couple of standouts. Mr. Fout trained horses for racing on the flat as well as over fences and he enjoyed success in both arenas. Possibly his most well known horse was Eclipse Award winner Life's Illusion. Mr. Fout trained the mare for owner/breeder Virginia Guest. In 1975 she won the New York Turf Writer's Cup Steeplechase and the Lovely Night Steeplechase in Saratoga making her the clear winner of the Eclipse Award Champion Steeplechaser. To this day she is the only filly to have won that. Now thirty years hence Paul's son Doug, also a steeplechase race trainer, has won the same race, the Grade 1, $159,200 New York Turf Writers Cup Steeplechase Handicap, with Eldon Farm's Hirapour, a 9-year old gelding. One can only imagine the pride and wonder of the son having achieved that bittersweet victory now, so soon after losing his beloved father.

Mr. Fout's other big horse came later in his life. Her name was Colstar, owned and bred by Beverly Steinman. In 2000 she won the Flower Bowl Invitational Handicap at Belmont Park. Colstar went on win a total of 11 races out of 18 starts, winning over $1 million. Mr. Wiley comments that though both of Mr. Fout's biggest horses were fillies and mares, "that was most certainly just a coincidence."

Successful as he was Paul Fout was not merely a racehorse trainer but an active member of that community as well. Perhaps his loss will be felt deepest by all those in Virginia who work, as he did, to keep racing a vibrant industry in our state. Mr. Fout was a cheerful advocate of the horse industry in our area and channeled his energies into many different organizations which do so as well. He was on the board of directors of the Virginia Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. But perhaps most important to all his neighbors and friends in Middleburg, Paul Fout was the General Manager, "head honcho" as Sheila Sisk fondly remembers calling him, of the Middleburg Spring Races.

Sisk went to work for Paul Fout and the Spring Races 20 years ago, first helping to clear leaves off the course and eventually to her long uninterrupted post as Race Secretary. She was witness to his decades of devoted care of the race course at Glenwood Park, including his design work on the Alfred Hunt Steeplechase course. "He went out there every day," recalls Sisk. "Because he loved it. He loved Glenwood Park."

Services were held August 22 at Grace Episcopal Church. Memorial contributions are being accepted by the Middleburg Spring Race Association, P.O. Box 1173, Middleburg, VA 20118.