Parker one short of 10,000

Zeke Parker didn’t drive on the muddy Wednesday card of May 12 but when Thursday dawned at Monticello Raceway many felt that day would be the one in which he scored his 10,000th driving victory.

Needing two more wins, he had the morning favorites in the early double but still a victory eluded  him though in the second race his trotter  Don’t Call Us  fell short by just a head.  And just when it appeared that Zeke was going to get skunked he masterfully used the  passing lane in the seventh race to rallied Vinnie Grippa’s Cagey Cole to a head triumph  in a 1:58 clocking.

And with three other chances after that to reach his milestone this afternoon all failed and Parker ended the day with 9999 wins.

Though he appeared calm and easy going at day’s end many railbirds feel he’s pushing too hard though he denied it.

“I have been getting bet (wagered on) but the stock I drove today I believe were a little overrated. I don’t feel any stress and besides there’s always another day,” he said philosophically.

The “another day” that Parker referred to is Monday May 17 when he drives in all 13 races on the card at the Mighty M. (Monticello)