by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway
Monticello, NY — Winning races in bunches at any race track is a common occurrence for many drivers. On Wednesday (Dec. 14), Larry Stalbaum, Mike Forte and Billy “Zeke” Parker, Jr. each had a hat trick of their own at Monticello Raceway.
But Zeke Parker had another trick besides winning three races on the card and that was containing Get Chipped in the winner’s circle when the trotting mare tried one of her “Hi Ho Silver” acts; you know the one where the Lone Ranger would bellow “up up and away!”
Geri Schwarz photo
Zeke Parker bailed out, but when Get Chipped was back on all fours he jumped on the sulky and away they went to the paddock.
Prior to her standing on her hind legs Get Chipped won the trotting co-feature in a time of 1:59.2 in wire-to-wire fashion. When Parker brought the mare back to the winner’s circle for a photograph with Brenda Messenger, the wife of trainer Gary Messenger, initially all went well. But as soon as track photographer Geri Schwarz snapped the picture, Get Chipped put on a show.
She reared up on her hind legs and only a knowledgeable horsemen would know not to grab the reins because that would only pull the mare over on her back and on to the driver. But for Zeke Parker it was just like another day at the office. He let Get Chipped do her thing and was ready to bail out but finally the mare settled down.
“For the last few times Billy (Parker) and I got together for a winner’s circle picture the horse didn’t want to co-operate,” Brenda Messenger related. “So when Get Chipped got back to have her picture taken I said to Billy, ‘wow, no trouble this time’ and no sooner had I said that than Get Chipped reared up — and she reared up high — almost dumping Billy out of the sulky.
“He did, eventually, have to get out of the sulky but it was only for a moment and then Get Chipped settled down and he got back on (the sulky) and he and Get Chipped went back to the paddock like nothing ever happened.”