The late Paul R. Fout, a renowned horse breeder and trainer who passed away in 2005, will be posthumously honored when a new equine barn on the campus of Virginia Tech's Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center is dedicated in his name on Friday, April 17.

The public is invited to attend the ceremony, which will be held on the grounds of the Leesburg medical center from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

During his 60-year career, Fout found much success in his equine pursuits. He served as general manager and former chairman of the Middleburg Spring Races, designed Glenwood Park’s Alfred Hunt course, published equine-related magazines, and with a group of other buyers in the 1970s, purchased the Middleburg Training Center, which leases stalls to racehorse trainers.

But his greatest legacy is most likely related to his achievements in training racehorses. His horses won over 200 races and more than $4 million in prizes. One of his biggest success stories was Colstar, a thoroughbred he trained for Peggy Steinman, who is currently a member of the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center Council. Colstar won 11 out of 18 races and more than $1 million in prize money, including the Flower Bowl Invitational Handicap at Belmont Park in 2000.

Steinman, a longtime friend of Fout’s, was the impetus behind the construction of the barn. “Mr. Fout was a giant in the local horse community and a strong advocate for the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center,” Steinman said. “His support and guidance in the equine industry was invaluable, as was the assistance he provided to the center. Naming this barn in his memory will permanently honor him and highlight his importance to the center. This is a fitting tribute.”

Fout approved the design of the new barn before his death, acknowledging the benefit of adding space to move horses in and out of the hospital quickly, thereby freeing up space for critical care cases and other emergent needs within the main hospital. The new barn is an open-air facility and includes 12 horse stalls, a nurses’ station, and three work areas. It will primarily be utilized for elective cases as well as a place to house and care for outpatients.

The barn dedication ceremony will feature an official ribbon-cutting, remarks by people who knew and worked with Fout, and a reception.

For more information about the dedication ceremony, please contact Amy Troppmann at (703) 771-6843.

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