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Charles Fontana
Born: March 9, 1946
Birthplace: New York, NY
Residence: Miami, FL
Family: Six children, thirteen grandchildren
Started Training: 1978
First Win: Tomahawk Princess, Tampa Bay Downs, 1978
Circuit: Tampa Bay Downs, Suffolk Downs, Calder Race Course
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Year
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Starts
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1st
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2nd
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3rd
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Earnings
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W rank
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W %
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ITM %
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2008-2009 meet
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198
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6
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19
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17
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$118,116
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40th
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3
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21.2
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2007-2008 meet
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204
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13
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19
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20
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$188,802
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17th
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6.4
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25.5
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2006-2007 meet
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190
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22
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16
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27
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$213,293
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6th
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11.6
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34.2
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2005-2006
meet
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128
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15
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9
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17
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$163,124
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10th
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12
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32
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Fontana, a New York native and a 35-year Florida resident, had his first career win with Tomahawk Princess here at the Oldsmar oval. “The track’s improved so much in so many ways, and now this is where I want to spend my winters. I just bought a house in Tampa,” says Fontana, adding, “I think Tampa Bay Downs is a really great track. I have a ball here.” Fontana ended the 2007-2008 Tampa Bay Downs season as the seventeenth leading trainer overall, escorting 13 of his trainees to the winner’s circle.
Fontana
says that his favorite moment in the current Tampa Bay Downs season was arriving back at the Oldsmar oval. “I’m happiest when I’m here. I enjoy the scene very much. It’s like coming home.” Fontana went on to say that his two victories on Tuesday, December 18 were very special to him, because he both owned and trained the winning horses. “It felt great,” said Fontana. “They’re nice horses, and all of my help is really good. The people, the racing, I enjoy it all.”
Charles Fontana began his career with racehorses at an early age. “As a youngster, my next door neighbor had racehorses. I was fascinated by them, so I started working with them. Then I trained them, and then I started owning them.” Fontana says that his favorite horse is
He’s My Man, with whom he won four races here in the 2005-2006 Tampa meet. The horse is special to him because Fontana saved He’s My Man from being put down due to injury. “I rehabbed him, and gave him a lot of time and patience. And he’s still running now! Not very often, but when I pick a spot for him, he still wins.” Fontana adds, “I’ll never part with him. He’s a great horse.”
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