MR - 6 WINS FOR ZEKE ON WEDNESDAY; 10,855 IN HIS CAREER

He doesn’t get much national attention but Billy “Zeke” Parker Jr. is one of the best harness drivers of all time. And his record speaks for itself!

On  the muddy afternoon of  November 28,  Zeke  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 and the third with Heavenspearlygates ($7.50)in 2:02.4.

After getting beat at the wire in race four with Famous Dude  Zeke then won the eighth race with trotter Chrome Finish ($4.40) in 2:02. But Zeke wasn’t done yet.

He copped the 11^th with Pictonians Souwest in 2:01.4 and win number six that day came behind  Four Starz Pop Pop ($5.00)   in 2:00.2.

Zeke 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 but with his constant  victories and a flurry of wins in the past three weeks  amazingly Parker is now just four wins behind (237-233)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, Scarborough Downs among  others.

“He (Parker)  gets no respect,  especially for a driver who has won over 10,000 races in his career,”  chirps longtime Monticello Raceway program director, John Flynn. “ Zeke can drive with the best of them and even now at the ripe old age of 59 he’s not slowing down. He’s an amazing driver, and always has been.”