Birth Date: February 23, 1981
Birth Place: Aizenay, France

Was the second-leading rider at the 2012 summer meeting at Golden Gate Fields.  Won 24 races during the 17-day summer meeting to finish second to Russell Baze, who recorded four victories on closing day and won the title with 27 victories.

Strong showing at GGF summer meeting followed his successful campaign on the summer fair circuit, where he won three stakes – the California State Fair Sprint Handicap at Sacramento with Indian Gracey, the Horsemen Of The Year Stakes at Santa Rosa with Irish-bred She Spirit di Su at Santa Rosa, and the Jess Jackson Owner’s Handicap with Shudacudawudya at Santa Rosa.

Couton won the 2011 California Derby at Golden Gate Fields with Positive Response and also won the 2011 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park aboard the gelding.

Couton fractured a pair of vertebrae in a spill in May 2011 and was out of action several months due to the back injury.  He returned to the saddle in late 2011 and finished 10th in the jockey standings at the 2011-2012 winter/spring meeting at Golden Gate Fields.  

Rode 86 winners in his homeland before coming to the U.S. in 2006.

Couton spent his first two years in the U.S. working as an exercise rider for trainers Patrick Biancone and Leonard Powell in Southern California.  

He scored his first U.S. victory on April 23, 2008 at Hollywood Park.

Couton came to Northern California in the fall of 2009.

Couton had 213 wins in the U.S. through Sept. 19, 2012, including seven stakes victories.