He doesn’t get much national attention, but Billy 'Zeke' Parker Jr. is one of the winningest harness drivers of all time. And his record speaks for itself.
On the muddy afternoon of November 28, Parker reined six winners on the Monticello Raceway card, and with those victories his career win total is now at 10,855, seventh best all-time in North America.
Parker began the day reeling off winners in the first three races on the card. He won the first with B J Pacificia ($4.30) in 2:01.1 and then copped the second behind Twincreeks Jazz ($3.70) in 2:03.3. He nabbed the third with Heavenspearlygates ($7.50) in 2:02.4.
After getting beat at the wire in race four with Famous Dude, Parker then won the eighth race with trotter Chrome Finish ($4.40) in 2:02. But Parker wasn’t done yet.
He copped the 11th with Pictonians Souwest in 2:01.4 and win No. 6 came with Four Starz Pop Pop ($5.00) in 2:00.2.
Parker didn’t begin the 2012 racing season at the 'Mighty M' until early March after he recuperated from prostate cancer surgery, and at that point he spotted leader Jimmy Marohn Jr. almost 70 wins. Although, with his constant victories and a flurry of wins in the past three weeks, Parker is amazingly now just four wins behind the talented son of veteran driver Jimmy Marohn.
“I’ve even surprised myself that I have drawn this close. Starting so late and so far behind I never thought I’d be in a position with a chance to win another (driving) title, especially against Jimmy Junior, who certainly knows his way around the racetrack,” Parker said. “Winning titles is great, but it’s not as important to me now as it was when I was younger. Still thrilling to be the leader.”
Parker has won 18 driving crowns at Monticello Raceway and has been leading driver at many other racetracks in the northeast where he’s competed on a regular basis, including Yonkers Raceway, Foxboro Raceway and Scarborough Downs, among others.
(Monticello)