Harness: Margaret Gillon named Caretaker of the Year

Margaret Gillon, who is a longtime and greatly appreciated member of the Burke Brigade, has been named the 2023 Fair Island Farm Caretaker of the Year.

The 41-year-old Gillon has been working with the Ron Burke Stable since 2012 and during that time has been the caretaker of some of the best and most expensive horses on the track that includes Atlanta, Blue Diamond Eyes, Celebrity Bambino, It’s Academic, M-M's Dream, Southwind Gendry and T C I.

The annual award is sponsored by Art Zubrod and Leah Cheverie’s Fair Island Farm in conjunction with the United States Harness Writers Association and will be presented at the Dan Patch Awards banquet sponsored by Caesars Entertainment on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024.

After learning of her recognition, Gillon said “I’m so grateful for this award, I’m so honored, I’m just speechless. I can’t believe it, I’m just ecstatic. I always wanted to win a Breeders Crown with one of my horses and now me winning Caretaker of the Year, it’s like winning the Breeders Crown for caretakers.

“To be honored with this award when there are so many fabulous and tremendous caretakers in this industry is really something special. I’m just thankful to work for Ronny (Burke) and all his great horses and I am also humbled by all the kind words people put forth on their nominations for me. I am really touched by all of this.”

Gillon has been described as careful, detail-oriented and so involved she will actually lose sleep worrying about her horses. Besides her stake horses, Gillon also takes care of overnighters that actually demand more of her than most of the young ones in their early careers. After all the morning work is done, Gillon will be in the barn late in the afternoon tubbing feet or giving horses field time in preparation for the next day.

Frank Baldachino, who is a partner in ownership of M-M’s Dream commented, “When M-M's Dream shipped east from Indiana at the start of the 2023 stakes season I asked Ron (Burke) if Margo could care for Dream. He said that's who he had planned to give her to.

“From the day Dream arrived at the barn, Margo has showered her with love and care as if she was her own daughter, and boy did it show on the racetrack! She defeated the boys in the Hambletonian Maturity and three weeks later came back to trounce the aged mares in the John Steele memorial in a life's best 1:50.

“Margo has dedicated her life to the care of Standardbreds, and is a true professional at her craft. All four of the horses she takes care of will be up for year-end awards.”

The Caretaker of the Year was initially titled Groom of the Year Award when first presented in 1982, an honor that was instituted as a result of a suggestion made by Delvin Miller at the annual Harness Tracks of America meeting. Previously sponsored annually by HTA and Hanover Shoe Farms, the tradition was continued in 2015 by MGM Northfield Park and USHWA, with Art Zubrod and Leah Cheverie’s Fair Island Farm taking over the sponsorship in 2019.

A seven-member USHWA panel of former caretakers selected Gillon the winner of the Fair Island Farm Caretaker of the Year Award. Gillon will receive a cash prize of $2,500 as well as transportation costs to the Dan Patch Awards banquet sponsored by Caesars Entertainment at the Rosen Centre in Orlando, Fla., on Sunday night (Feb. 25), where she will be recognized and presented with a trophy. Gillon will also receive a two-night stay at Rosen Centre, host hotel for the USHWA activities, and two complimentary dinner tickets.

A total of 19 caretakers were nominated for the Fair Island Farm Caretaker of the Year Award and all nominated caretakers will receive a certificate recognizing their accomplishments.

Room reservations at Rosen Centre for the star-studded Dan Patch Awards weekend can be made at the USHWA website at usharnesswriters.com.

Sponsorship opportunities for the event can be procured from sponsorship chairman Shawn Wiles at swiles@rwcatskills.com

Information regarding tickets to the event and congratulatory advertisements in the souvenir journal will be available shortly.

-edited release (By Tim Bojarski for USHWA)