There was a time, not too many years ago, when Billy Parker, Jr. seemingly owned the racetrack at Monticello Raceway. But that could be said about every track that 'Zeke'
raced at.
In 1981, he won driving titles at Scarborough Downs and Lewiston Raceway in his home state of Maine, and then was the driving leader at Foxboro Raceway in Massachusetts in 1983. The following year, Parker moved his base of operations to Monticello, and, you guessed it, he continued winning driving titles.
He has won 13 driving championships at the 'Mighty M' to go along with two championship seasons at Yonkers Raceway. Parker holds the record for most wins in a season (526 during 1995), and Zeke has recorded more victories at Monticello (over 6,800) than any other driver in the track's history.
Parker, whose driving career started in 1977, has 9,825 career driving wins, which ranks him ninth all-time in the sport. Many feel that his lifetime stats and multiple driving titles make him a great candidate for the Hall of Fame.
In recent seasons, Zeke has slowed down by his standards, but most drivers would be extremely proud to win 180 races or more during a single season. It’s not that he has lost anything, it’s just that he’s gotten a bit older and isn’t pushing as hard.
One of his prized accomplishments — and there have been many — came at Monticello on October 26, 1996 when he tied a then-World Record, as he steered nine winners on the 10-race program.
The native of Maine, who celebrated his 56th birthday on September 24, finds his life much different than it was decades ago.
About 10 years ago, he married a local girl, TJ McCullough, and they settled outside of Monticello on the Cold Spring Road where they have a small farm complete with paddocks to turn out and freshen-up their stock. Parker even bulldozed a track there where he can exercise his horses.
But Parker’s world recently turned upside down. His beloved TJ succumbed to cancer. Left alone with two young sons, Brandon (8), and Brody (2), Parker is now raising his boys with help from TJ’s mom and his own family. And even with that, and help from others, Parker has a full plate and his boys are very special and important to him.
There was no doubt TJ’s three-year illness plagued Parker, and during her suffering Parker’s mind was understandably clouded, surely worrying about his beloved, especially the last year when she suffered so much. But since her passing, he’s the Zeke Parker of old.
"I'm getting my sharpness back," he said with a laugh. "You just keep it in your mind that you can still do it. That's all."
Currently, Parker is again at the top of the local leaderboard. At press time, his 314 wins are 120 more than his nearest rival.
And perhaps more importantly, Parker is just 175 wins away from the 10,000 win plateau, an accomplishment that Zeke is looking forward to.
“If all goes right, and with a little luck, I should reach 10,000 (wins) next year,” Parker said. “Right now I’m getting about 10 wins a week, though two weeks ago,” he added with a smile. “I won 16 races (over the four-day Monticello Raceway race week).
And the way Parker is driving it’s a safe bet that he’ll reach his goal.
On October 25 at their 51st annual Awards Banquet at Kutshers Country Club in Monticello, New York, the United States Harness Writer's Association's Monticello-Goshen chapter will honour Parker's accomplishments and present him with its Lifetime Achievement Award.
(Monticello Raceway)