Billy Parker Jr. joins elite list with 9000th career driving victory
July 4, 2006,by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway
MONTICELLO, NY –When Billy Parker Jr. reined Never Look Back to a 2:01:3 victory yesterday at Monticello Raceway it marked his 9000th career driving victory and with that he joined a very elite group of just nine harness drivers who have won 9000 or more races in their careers.
courtesy of racehorsephoto.com
Parker is greeted in the winners circle by his wife T.J. and son Brandon.
Parker, a Maine native and a Monticello, NY resident for the past 19 years, has won 13 driving titles at the Mighty M since he first came here in 1984. He holds the track record for most wins in one season (526 in 1995) and on October 20, 1996 he equaled a then world record of nine driving victories on a single card.
“It’s been a struggle (to get to 9000 wins) and I’m glad it’s over,” Parker said. “I was putting them (his horses) in the right place (during the race) but they kept coming up empty. I was getting frustrated but that’s history now.”
In the winners circle after his milestone victory Parker was joined by his wife T.J. and son Brandon along with some friends and well-wishers. And though Parker himself was elated his wife was equally as happy.
“This is great and I’m so proud of him,” T.J said and then added lovingly; “And I’ve been with him for 6000 wins.”
Earlier on the card Parker scored his 8999th win when he guided Four Starz Deal to a 1:58:4 victory in the second race.
Zeke, as Parker likes to be known by, began his illustrious career grooming, then training for his uncle, Freeman Parker, who has 4123 wins to his credit.
“Freeman taught me what it took to become a successful driver,” Parker said. “I’ll always be appreciative of the training I received from my uncle. Harness racing is about the only thing I had on my mind when I was growing up.”
Parker won his first race in 1970 at Presque Isle, Maine and by the late 1970’s he was the “King of Maine”.
In 1980 he gained national attention after he reined 266 winners, which was good enough to rank him 10th on the national list.
It seemed no matter what track Parker raced at he ended up winning the track’s dash-title. In 1981 he won dash titles at Scarborough Downs and Lewiston Raceway and when he moved to Foxboro Raceway and he moved to the head of the class there, too.
In 1984 he decided to try a campaign at Monticello Raceway where he finished with both the dash win and UDRS titles. He liked the track and area so much that he decided to make Monticello his home.
Over the years Parker has won numerous driving titles at the Mighty M and in the process he holds the record for winning more races —6500 and counting—than anyone else who ever competed at the Catskill Mountain oval.
Along the way he earned national ranking 14 times thus far, and his 526 winners in 1995 was his best single season output and good enough to rank him fifth nationally.
When asked if he thinks that his accomplishment are good enough to be considered for the Hall of Fame he paused for a moment and then said: “ I think so. I won a driving title at nearly every track I raced at I won all my races on single cards. I never drove at two different tracks on the same day like so many others that have racked up big totals.”