Monticello Raceway has announced that leading driver Billy 'Zeke' Parker will be out of action until

at least this March.

Parker's name has been absent from Monticello's program in recent weeks because earlier this month he underwent surgery to have his cancerous prostate completely removed.

“It was a long surgery, but I’m doing pretty good now,” Parker told the Monticello Raceway publicity office. "It’ll be a long healing process and I'm [going to] take it slow. They say I probably won’t be back (in action) until March.”

Parker, 58, added another driving title to his resume when his .341 UDR was the best among the Monticello Raceway drivers during the 2011 campaign. Since he came to the track from his native Maine in 1985, Parker has won 18 driving titles. He is far and away the winningest driver in 'Mighty M' history with over 7,000 races won at the Sullivan County oval.

Parker added another 388 wins to his lifetime totals during the 2011 season, and currently his 10,623 career victories ranks him seventh all time in the sport.

Please join Standardbred Canada in wishing Parker a speedy and full recovery.

(With files from Monticello)