John Hendrickson was an outsider in Saratoga Springs racing and charity circles. Marylou Whitney’s widow died Monday at Saratoga Hospital. Saratoga, 59, worked to provide support in the backcourt. After Whitney died in 2019 at the age of 93, Hendrickson supported the workers by raising funds for the Saratoga Backstretch Clinic, a partnership between Saratoga Hospital and Backstretch Employee Services Group that provides follow-up medical services to employees. We have continued our efforts to do so. . BEST Director Nancy Underwood said Hendrickson’s dedication to the people who keep the racetrack running is unmatched.
“One of his biggest strengths is how quiet he is behind the scenes. It didn’t need that much fanfare. As you know, there is a back assessment that he co-founded with Marylou. When Marylou was alive, they came every Sunday for dinner and every Wednesday for bingo. They sat down with dependent workers, thought about them and asked about their families. Even after Marylou’s death, he continued the series of reviews. And on Sundays, he’s still here taking pictures with the guys in the back, making sure the food is up to his standards,” Underwood said. Hendrickson also served as president of the National Horse Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in 2017. The former political consultant from Alaska married Whitney in 1997. This marriage became a hot topic because of the age difference.
Museum spokesman Brien Bouye said Hendrickson’s mark on local racing history will not be forgotten. “He brought great passion and was a great leader. He had many pioneering ideas here, especially bringing the Hall of Fame into a modern and exciting era. We wanted to have a fully digital experience with the Hall of Fame. Added signature movie. He just brought a lot of energy and passion. Museum attendance has been growing for several years and we are in a good position financially because of John’s leadership,” said Bouye. Hendrickson led a $20 million capital campaign to realize the vision of a modernized Hall of Fame. Veteran horse trainer Nick Zito remembers the duo as a power couple who shaped the Spa City racing world.
“He loved being with Marylou, he loved horses, he was chairman of the museum and he did a lot of things behind the scenes, so his life went by quickly. I mean, he’s 59 years old, but if you think about it, for He’s been here for 30 years with the horses and everything. I came back with something and learned a lot from the race,” said Zito. Hall of Famer Zito trained 2004 Belmont and Traverse winner Birdstone for Marylou Whitney’s Delta. “I think the saddest thing is, I thought it was going to hit you so hard, but who’s going to get it?” Who does this? You know, without the two people. I can say with confidence that I don’t know. I hope someone will step up,” Zito said.
Whitney, who earned the nickname “Queen of Saratoga,” worked to keep Saratoga Race Course open in the 1970s when attendance declined. Hendrickson served on the NYRA Board of Directors from 2012 to 2016 and served as race advisor to then-Governor Andrew Cuomo. David O’Rourke, president and CEO of the New York Racing Association, praised Hendrickson’s dedication to racing and his role as “a key member of the committee that organized the 150th anniversary of Saratoga horse racing.”At the time of his death, Hendrickson owned thousands of acres of Adirondack land.
