On the misty afternoon of Monday, September 27, with the rain trickling down and the racetrack covered with mud, Billy 'Zeke' Parker reined odds-on favourite Jaguar Jet to a 2:01:1 victory and captured the 20th edition of Monticello Raceway’s Little Grey Jug -- and since Parker won the inaugural edition in 1990, maybe it was only fitting.
Seven grey or roan-coloured pacers lined up behind the mobile starting gate. When the word 'go' was given by the starting judge, Big Rueben and driver Rick Harp grabbed the racetrack and wouldn’t relinquish the lead despite -- or maybe because -- two of the top pacers in the contest being parked out.
Big Rueben passed the first stanza in :29:1 with Brickyard Wayne (driven by Ray Baynes) and Jaguar Jet chasing the leader to gain command. But that never happened for either of the challengers.
Harp kept the two greys on the limb and he kept Big Rueben’s pedal to the metal. As the field passed the half in :59:3, there were four in and three out.
Knowing he had the best horse in the invited field, Parker moved three wide after the half and finally circled Brickyard Wayne as the field approached the three quarters. Still, Jaguar Jet never saw the pylons, as he and Big Rueben raced as a team around the final turn. However, Jaguar Jet’s class prevailed in the lane. He and Parker wore down Harp and Big Rueben to score the victory.
Big Rueben fought gamely, but second best was all that he could muster. Brickyard Wayne, who also went the mile on the limb, finished third.
When Parker returned to the winners circle he was literally covered with mud. Even his full-beard was brown from the muddy racing surface.
“It wasn’t one of my best drives,” Parker openly admitted, “but hey, it was tough going out there today.”
Nick Surick, who conditions Jaguar Jet for owners Melvin Fink, Cliff Grundy and Anna Glide, was extremely thrilled with the outcome, as was Ms. Glide. When asked how he was doing, Surick was quick to quip, "I’m a lot better now.”
(With files from Monticello)