Apr 11, 2026 By John Sacco 4 min read

Long-time Meadows’ horseman and Belle Vernon native Rich Gillock recently received the 2026 Appreciation Award from Harness Horseman International.

Award winners were recognized at HHI’s Awards Luncheon, sponsored by Rush Street Interactive, during its annual meeting last month in Florida.

Gillock, who is retired, won more than 1,200 races and earned more than $21 million in purses in his career.

He served on the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association (MSOA) for 30 years, including 19 years as president. Gillock has been a United States Trotting Association director for more than 20 years.

“It turned out to be really nice,” Gillock said. “I am very appreciative the HHI is more of an organization that’s been there for a lot of years. People don’t even realize it doesn’t do what it used to do as far as being powerful in the horse business, but at one time, the HHI was a very powerful organization.

“It does make you feel that you are appreciated. I know none of us work to get awards but it’s still nice to be recognized.”

Gillock’s family was deeply involved in harness racing in Western Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Mike, and two uncles founded Gillock Racing Stables in the 1950s, racing at fairs throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania. When The Meadows opened in 1963, it became their home track-a tradition Gillock continues. At his peak, Gillock raced as many as 60 horses at The Meadows.

He earned his trainer’s license when18-years-old in 1974 and was one of the track’s leading conditioners for four decades. Some of his top performers remain on the list of the track’s all-time greatest horses: Amber’s Will, Miller’s Aussie, Northwest, Junket, Jet Pace, Execujet, Yankee Bart, Encore Encore, Break The Bank K and Winning Mister.

HHI has served horsemen for more than 60 years, advocating for their rights and welfare. HHI promotes the sport in North America.

Charlie May rises

Charlie May, an 8-year-old gelding, last month won the $30,000 Open Handicap Pace on opening day (Monday, March 23) at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel.

Charlie May held off Tip Top Cat to win the pace.

Moving two slots inside into post 6 after two scratches, Charlie May (driven by Marvin Luna) rolled for the lead, forcing 6-5 favorite Captain Arturovico (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) heading past a :27.3 first quarter. Charlie May coasted on the point to a :56 half and continued comfortably up the backstretch with minimal challenge looming to three-quarters in 1:24.2. Charlie May stayed on the muscle through the final turn and accelerated for home as Captain Arturovico angled out of the pocket to no avail. Tip Top Cat (Marcus Miller) meanwhile roared from last with a furious charge down the center of the track. However, Charlie May held his ground and kept a neck in front to the end of a 1:52.1 mile. Captain Arturovico finished in third while Hazardos (Brandon Bates) took fourth.

Charlie May won his second race in eight starts this season and notched his 36th victory in 112 starts (.321) in his career and moved his earnings to $2,442,869 for owner-breeder Don Tiger of Canonsburg.

Zidek the coach

The Meadows track announcer Jeff Zidek is one of the top collegiate bowling coaches in the country, leading St. Vincent College’s women’s team to new heights.

The team owns a 45-4 record – highest winning percentage in the NCAA. It ranked fourth in the combined NCAA D2-D3 poll, and 22nd in the All-Divisions Poll, the only D-3 team to make the top 25.

Zidek, in his ninth season at St. Vincent, was named National Tenpin Coaches Association National Division III Coach of the Year Thursday in Cleveland.

St. Vincent captured the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference for the second consecutive year, earning the automatic bid to NCAA Nationals. The Bearcats placed three bowlers on the all-conference first team. Another was second team, while another was the conference Newcomer of the Year. Zidek captured his fourth Coach of the Year award, including three straight.

NCAA Nationals consist of 19 teams from all Divisions, broken into four regionals. St. Vincent is one of only two D-3 teams in the nationals.

The Bearcats were assigned to the Pittsburgh region as fourth seed out of five. They lost, 2-1, Thursday in a play-in game against fifth-seeded Belmont Abbey (Division II) in the single elimination tournament at AMF Mount Lebanon.

St. Vincent also qualified for the U.S. Bowling Congress’s Collegiate Nationals, called the Intercollegiate Team Championships. The Bearcats finished second in their sectional last month — the top four in each of four regions advanced to the nationals.

St. Vincent will travel to Green Bay to compete from April 15-17 in a 16-team field. There are more than 180 USBC Collegiate women’s teams.