Count him in. Billy 'Zeke' Parker, Jr. is now a member of the elite 10,000-win club, only the ninth driver in North America to accomplish the feat
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On Monday, May 17, Parker joined eight other harness drivers who have won 10,000 or more races in their careers when he guided Deliver Val to a 2:00 triumph at Monticello Raceway.
Last week Parker had needed just four more wins to reach the coveted milestone, but he only managed to win three races over the three days in which he competed in at the 'Mighty M.'
“I don’t think I pushing too hard or really feeling any pressure, but I put many of them (the horses) in the right place to win but they never fired,” Parker said at the end of the final card last week.
He began yesterday's program needing just one more victory to reach the coveted milestone, and though he attained his goal, he took his time reaching it. It's not that he wasn’t anxious for a victory, but a second and third-place finish in the earlier races was all Parker could muster prior to Race 12. Parker and Deliver Val would cut all the fractions in Race 12 and then hold off a bevy of late charges to reach the milestone.
Parker took his time returning to the winner's circle, which allowed for three vanloads of drivers and trainers to come from the paddock to the winners circle for the ceremonies. The drivers were joined by Parker’s children, Brandon (11) and Brody (3), his sister-in-law, Patty Magie, and his mother-in-law, Betty McCullough, along with other family members and close friends.
Notably lacking from the photographs and the ceremonies was the “rock” of Parker’s life, his late wife, TJ, who succumbed to breast cancer 15 months ago.
“I know she’s looking down at us today,” Parker said as he wiped the tears from his eyes. “She’s the main reason why I am standing here today and this (reaching his milestone) is somewhat empty without her.
“Still I’m real proud to have won 10,000 races and be one of only a few have done it.”
When asked if he had felt any pressure to reach the milestone Monday, Parker said that he probably did since he had his family was there to join him when he won his 10,000th.
“I really thought I had a good chance in five races today, so I wanted my boys and my family to be with me. But when he reached the 10th race and I didn’t get a winner I felt some pressure and wondered if I will make it today,” he explained.
But Parker didn’t have t wait too much longer, and though he was in an all-out drive to win the 12th race with Deliver Val, he still raised his whip to acknowledge the milestone.
One rainy and muddy day last week, needing just two more wins for 10,000, Parker begged off the 11 drives he had that day. “I’ve been driving for over 40 years and I didn’t want to win it (his 10,000th) on a rainy and muddy afternoon,” he said.
After the hoopla with the winners circle ceremonies, Parker was back in action in the 13th and final race on Monticello's Monday card. After the race, the judges posted the official sign which indicated that Parker had win number 10,001.
(Monticello)