The 10,000-win club welcomed its newest member on Monday as Billy “Zeke” Parker Jr. reached the milestone with Deliver Val in the 12th race Monday at Monticello Raceway. The 56-year-old Parker is only the ninth driver in North American racing to reach 10,000 career wins; he has purse earnings just shy of $27 million.
Parker’s momentous victory came when Deliver Val held on by a head to score in 2:00.1 Parker, who has been among Monticello’s leading drivers since he began driving at that track 26 years ago, came right back in the 13th race to score win 10,001 with Anna Sage in 2:01.
A native of Maine, Parker’s career in harness racing began as a groom and assistant for his uncle Freeman Parker. He drove his first winner at Presque Isle, Maine, in 1970, and became known as the “King of Maine” until he moved to Foxboro Park in 1980. After annually leading the standings at that Massachusetts track, Parker then made the move to the Mighty M. in 1984.
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