by John Manzi, for the Monticello-Goshen Chapter USHWA

Montcello, NY — When the Monticello-Goshen Chapter USHWA holds its 52nd annual awards banquet at Monticello Casino & Raceway on Sunday evening, October 24, the local scribes will honor Lucien Fontaine with their Lifetime Achievement Award.

Lucien Fontaine

“Loosh” as he is liked to be called, actually vaulted into stardom while competing at Monticello Raceway in the early 1960s. He won back-to-back driving titles there in 1963 and 1964 and fans who attended the races at the Mighty M during those years will never forget Lucien’s pride and joy, Pocomoonshine, who he recalled to have been one of the grittiest and finest pacers he ever had, excluding of course his 1986 Horse of the Year, Forrest Skipper.

“Pocomoonshine was probably the best horse on the grounds at Monticello in those days and when some top pacers would miss a week in New York they’d come to Monticello for a race and after they were defeated by Pocomoonshine they would return back to New York humbled,” Fontaine recently said while recalling his glory years at the Mighty M.

Another of Fontaine’s favorites during his Monticello years was Ruby Duby Doo who was one of the best pacing mares on the grounds back then. And he recalled fondly the time he drove all four ends of the Twin Double (a wager which was a big favorite among the betting crowd and one that is no-longer available), and was probably the only driver ever to do so.

Lucien’s memories of racing at Monticello are paramount for that is the way he met and married Marsha, the love of his life.

After a few years in the Catskills Fontaine moved on to the bigger purses that were offered in metropolitan New York and continued his brilliance in the sulky by copping driving titles at both Yonkers and Roosevelt Raceways in 1968, 1977 and 1978. Among some of the stalwarts that Fontaine catch-drove in those days were Valiant Bret, Country Don, Irish Napoleon, Shadow Rocket, Big Towner, Cigar Store Injun, Hodgen Special, Tropic Song, Rumpus Hanover, Eric G, Which Way, WW Smith and Oscar R L.

Lucien Fontaine and Forrest Skipper

In 1986 Lucien had quite a success story on his hands when he handled that season’s Horse of the Year, Forrest Skipper. The team had a perfect 15 for 15 season, setting records everywhere they went. Forrest Skipper won the Graduate Series Final in 1:51.3 at the Meadowlands, which was a world record for a 4-year old stallion on a mile track at that time. He equaled his own world record just five days later by winning a leg of the Driscoll Series. Forrest Skipper then equaled his record again when he won the Driscoll Series Final.

Lucien often talks about the wonderful opportunity he had and thanks Forrest Bartlett for his trust in him with his champion homebred.

“What a pleasure it must have been for Forrest to have bred and raised a homebred who earned the “Horse of the Year” title,” said Lucien.

He also thanks his good friend Woody Truitt for his recommendation to Forrest Bartlett that he should have Lucien train and drive Forrest Skipper.

Lucien’s career unfortunately ended prematurely in 1989 due to open-heart surgery.

After Lucien recuperated from his surgery his wife Marsha suggested “why don’t we take some time to smell the roses,” and Lucien agreed. From then on they traveled the world. It was the best time of their lives, traveling for 18 years, and Lucien gives Marsha all the credit for showing him the world and teaching him that there’s more to living than just racing harness horses.

After 39 years of a wonderful marriage Marsha passed away in 2006 due to pancreatic cancer.

Lucien currently makes his permanent residence in Margate, Florida but still travels to Canada and New York during the summer months. He still enjoys going to Pompano Park to watch the races but Lucien mostly enjoys flying with his son, Marc, who is a pilot. It isn’t rare for Lucien and Marc to have breakfast in Coral Springs, lunch in Key West and dinner in Palm Beach on the same day.