By
john manzi for Historic Track
The
third and final Sunday matinee card at Goshen Historic Track on June 21 was well
attended and offered seven races; six for pacers and trotters hooked to sulkies
and a trotting race under saddle.
Arguably,
the most interesting one was the sixth race when 16 year old Brandon Parker
made his first drive a winning one. The son of Billy “Zeke” Parker Jr,
drove his dad’s Wizard of Art to an easy two length victory over
Pine Bush Princess and driver by Jordan Stratton.
The
race time was 2:10 but a short four-horse field and early fractions of :33.3
and 1:07.2 dictated the relatively slow final time.
Brandon drove a good race,
fell into the 2 hole on the first turn and after anticipating the slow early
pace set by the leader Peter Lutman III with MBC Alison he moved Wizard of Art
to the front even before the first quarter was reached. From there Wizard of
Art raced unchallenged and won easily by two lengths.
There was large group of
family and friends along to watch young Brandon drive his first race and he
didn’t disappoint.
He was calm and collective
when he and his pacer entered the winners circle but the same couldn’t be said
for his dad. And like his dad who was always short on words and let his driving
do his talking, young Brandon simply said: “I’m happy and I feel real good,” .
Although
Brandon was raised around harness horses and worked with them every chance he
got it still was understandable that Zeke was nervous before the race.
“I
don’t think I was ever this nervous before I drove in a race but to see your
son out there for the first time it’s different and would make any dad a bit
uneasy,” Parker acknowledged.
But all
that dissipated as Parker walked across the track for the winners circle
presentation.
However,
his nervousness was replaced by teary eyes which he wiped consistently as he
walked along with younger son, Brodie, to take a photo with Brandon and Wizard
of Art.
On that
jaunt, fighting back the tears, the elder Parker murmured half choked up:
"I wish TJ ( his deceased wife and Brandon's mother) was here to see it.
He then
added:“This was such a great Father's Day present."
The
next action at Historic Track will be on July 2 when Grand Circuit meet gets
underway
