After a two and a half month hiatus due to prostate cancer surgery, Billy 'Zeke' Parker Jr. made it back into the winner's circle at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday
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And this afternoon Zeke had his photo taken three times. He won both ends of the early double; first with Mo Jo Stables’ Cams Accord in 1:58.4 in the first race and then came right back to score a 2:03.3 victory with Gary and Roberta Decker’s trotter Wonderful Race in the second. Zeke also won the trotting feature behind Brenda Messenger and Stephen Petersheim’s Chosen Voyageur in 1:59.2.
Parker returned slowly to action on Monday, March 19 and went winless in seven drives that day.
“Zeke got parked the entire mile in his first race back and let me tell you I never saw him hung the entire mile here... ever,” said longtime track announcer, Howard Oil with snigger in his voice. “They [the drivers] showed him no respect.”
“I had a couple of chances to back into a hole but I guess I was a little cautious in my first start back,” said Parker referring to being hung the entire mile. He paused and then added, “You know, I just went through a serious operation and I decided I wouldn’t push it. There’ll be plenty more chances to win a race.”
On Tuesday Zeke had seven drives with only two second place finishers to show for his efforts. Then on Wednesday Zeke looked like his old self when he drove three winners and scored a second and a third place finish in eight starts.
When asked how it felt getting back to the winner’s circle Parker smiled one of those cat that swallowed canary smiles and said softly, but with confidence, “Of course it feels good...and after what I just went through maybe it feels even better than it did before.” He then added philosophically, "You know, when you’re sick, or in my case after undergoing a serious operation, it makes you think a lot more about your life, and what is important and what isn’t. I’m just glad to be back doing what I love to do.”
(Monticello Raceway)