Passing of John Hendrickson: Tributes from the Industry

The day after the sudden passing of philanthropist John Hendrickson, the racing community he had helped so much was mourning his passing.

Hendrickson, who married Marylou Whitney in 1997, became the racing manager for Marylou Whitney Stables in addition to serving as president and chief operating officer of Whitney Industries. Hendrickson continued the racing stable after Whitney died in 2019 at the age of 93, campaigning graded stakes winners Pretty Birdie and Super Quick under the Marylou Whitney Stables banner.

Hendrickson led numerous initiatives that enhanced Saratoga’s National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, including spearheading a $20-million capital campaign to develop a state-of-the-art Hall of Fame and introduce an innovative and immersive signature film experience, as well as numerous renovated and reimagined galleries.

Hendrickson, who was elected chairman of the Museum on Aug. 10, 2017, helped in the beautification projects to the Museum’s Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Courtyard and recently the Beautiful Pleasure East Garden Courtyard.

After serving as a New York Racing Association board member, Hendrickson took on a special adviser role through an appointment by then New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo from 2012 through 2016. For the New York racing community, Hendrickson and Whitney created the Saratoga Backstretch Appreciation Program in 2008, organizing free events and services for backstretch workers. After Whitney’s death, Hendrickson continued to support backstretch appreciation dinners, English as a Second Language classes, and entertainment, among other initiatives.

As a tribute to his late wife, Hendrickson funded the construction of a new backstretch clinic, which opened in 2023 and provides on-site healthcare services at Saratoga Race Course. The clinic, which is operated by Saratoga Hospital in partnership with the Backstretch Employee Service Team, provides an improved experience for those receiving primary and emergency healthcare services at the track through doctors and medical professionals from Saratoga Hospital. He also contributed funding toward the New York Racetrack Chaplaincy Center at Belmont Park in 2023.

Also among those benefitting from Hendrickson’s generosity are the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Hospital, and the National Museum of Dance. In 2015, as part of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the city, Hendrickson and Whitney commissioned a life-size bronze of Native Dancer and gifted it to the city to celebrate the milestone. Two years earlier, Hendrickson was instrumental in the planning of the city-wide celebration of the 150th anniversary of the inaugural 1863 Saratoga race meeting.

Tributes from the industry:

Dave O’Rourke, NYRA President and CEO

“The New York Racing Association mourns the sudden passing of John Hendrickson, longtime husband to Mrs. Marylou Whitney. John was a highly respected civic leader in the Saratoga community who played an important role as Board Chair of the National Museum of Racing, and as an instrumental member of the committee that orchestrated the 150th anniversary of horse racing at Saratoga. John was a devoted philanthropist in support of the Saratoga backstretch community and, most recently, played a pivotal role in the construction of the Saratoga Backstretch Clinic. His contributions to horse racing and to Saratoga will long be remembered.”

Nancy Underwood, Executive Director of the Backstretch Employee Service Team

He wasn’t just a supporter, he was an advocate for the welfare of the backstretch. His commitment to our mission at BEST was incredible for the people we serve.

He and Marylou founded the Backstretch Appreciation Program where they wanted to celebrate the backstretch in a way that was mimicking what was going on on the frontside, to let them know they were valued and important. They came every Sunday and Wednesday–dinner on Sunday, Wednesday Bingo. He and Marylou would sit on the backstretch and talk with them and they knew the backstretch workers’ families and they really made connections.

After her passing in 2019, he could have just walked away, but he still showed up every Sunday and Wednesday. He would come in and make sure the food was up to par, he would pull raffle tickets for Bingo on Wednesdays. He was just a constant presence and you could see how much he enjoyed it because his face would just light up.

He and Marylou had a shared dream of building a beautiful new medical facility for the backstretch employees here in Saratoga. After Marylou passed away, while still grieving the loss of his wife, he and their amazingly dedicated staff sorted through her belongings and created this auction so they could make this medical clinic a reality. It opened in 2023. It’s beautiful and we actually provide the most comprehensive services across this country. He and Marylou are a part of that. You can just see their commitment to our backstretch community and that he cared so deeply for them.

He was amazing and spent a lot of time with us here and a lot of effort. It wasn’t just through the meet, they were planning for these events through the whole winter: what do you think about having an acoustic guitar as a raffle prize? Do you think the TVs are big enough? He was always thinking about the backstretch, not just during the eight weeks of the Saratoga meet.

I think when you look at his legacy, he was just quietly behind the scenes advocating and trying to make the lives of the people on the backstretch better. We are going to miss him dearly, for sure.

Cate Masterson, National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Director

“John Hendrickson was a visionary leader who had a tremendous passion for the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, the Saratoga Springs community, and racing in general. He was truly one of a kind and this loss is immeasurable. The entire Museum board and staff is deeply saddened by his passing. Our hearts are with his family and his numerous friends. We all loved him very much.”

Chaplain Humberto Chavez

We know that friendship is a gift from God. We cherish the blessing of that gift and are grateful to God for allowing us to cross paths and be introduced to our most cherished friends.
John Hendrickson was that blessing to us, both on a deeply personal level and for what he meant to the Chaplaincy and to the backstretch community.
We are shocked and saddened as we try to come to terms with his sudden passing yesterday, at the age of 59.
John and his late wife Marylou Whitney were powerful advocates for the backstretch and they stood behind their commitment by providing resources in support of the work of the Chaplaincy and others.
In 2018, John and Marylou stepped up to join the original group of founding partners of the NY Chaplaincy Center, our new headquarters at Belmont Park.
After Marylou passed in 2019, John took the lead by continuing a program started by he and Marylou that brought joy to the entire backstretch community of Saratoga, the Backstretch Appreciation Program. He devoted long hours, and encouraged his friends to join in making this program the best in the country, with components that include learning English, hosting soccer tournaments, and providing a large food spread to feed hundreds on Sundays.
John was an original Sustaining Member of the Chaplaincy–a group dedicated to long-term support of our organization. Demonstrating exceptional generosity, John not only committed to supporting the program, but also chose to expedite his pledge, donating the entire amount immediately rather than over several years.
Just last week, John attended the Chaplaincy’s annual brunch, where he witnessed the presentation of the Marylou Whitney Award to honoree Len Green for his dedication to the backstretch community. The event held special significance as Mr. Green was joined by one of his former students, who is also the granddaughter of Marylou Whitney.
It was profoundly meaningful for us that John was present at the brunch, and even more touching for him to hear the audience’s heartfelt tributes to Marylou’s dedication to the backstretch community.
John’s exemplary support has left a lasting impact on our organization and the Thoroughbred racing industry, and his generosity and commitment to the backstretch community will be remembered with great respect. The entirety of the backstretch will mourn his loss.
We invite you to join with us as we pray for John’s family, for each other, for the backstretch, and for the vast network of people and organizations who were impacted by his life and love.

Thank you, John. We love you.

Antony Beck, Gainesway Farm

It is impossible to find words adequate to describe the shock of having a man of such vigor and vitality taken from us so abruptly. It is even harder to begin to describe what a marvelous person John Hendrickson was, and what a loyal and cherished friend we have lost.

There were, of course, many specific deeds that tell you something of the nature of the man: above all, his unstinting commitment to the backstretch community at Saratoga, from the free weekend meals that brought the community together to the medical clinic by which he has carried forward Mary Lou’s legacy in such a tangible way. That same magnanimity was also transparent in the basic human register of his day-to-day life, in the sheer warmth that he brought to his dealings with people of any and all backgrounds.

John certainly loved our sport. He particularly savored the success of Birdstone, Birdtown, and Birdsong and I could always look forward to a happy call after John had been in the winner’s circle. Tracking his mares and matings, along with his racing stable were things he enjoyed, carrying on Mary Lou’s silks across the finish line. His tireless devotion to the Museum of Racing in Saratoga invigorated an institution so important to the entire Thoroughbred industry, bringing together passionate individuals who trusted his vision and perseverance. But people should not forget that this was a man of rare all-round accomplishment. He was an aide and speechwriter to Governor Hickel in Alaska and brought corresponding intelligence and personal skills to his countless benevolent endeavors once entering our community.

He was the most devoted of husbands and had been tending to Mary Lou’s legacy with all the love he had shared with her during their years together. It was a Sunday ritual to have breakfast with Mary Lou and John whenever we were all in Kentucky, and it was wonderful to see what a unique bond they had developed. The Sunday tradition continued over the past five years, whenever John came to Lexington, and the conversation was always thoughtful, intelligent, and kind.

It feels like a brutal irony that fate has now dealt him such a contrasting hand to Mary Lou, who was blessed to retain all her vivacity and verve to such a great age. Perhaps the joys that they found together would, to such a big-hearted and selfless man, make the brevity of his own allotted span seem like an acceptable trade. Instead, it falls to the rest of us to lament the deficit left in our own lives by his premature departure; those decades of unfailing kindness, generosity, and humor of which we have now been deprived. He leaves us with many happy memories and fond recollections of a cherished friendship never to be replaced.

Belmont Child Care Association

BCCA mourns the loss of John Hendrickson, who was a noted horse racing philanthropist and Chairman of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

His contributions to horse racing and to the Saratoga community will long be remembered. John served as a leader in the Thoroughbred racing community and his compassion for backstretch workers touched the lives of many.

John was the longtime husband to the late Mrs. Marylou Whitney. Both together and after her passing, he was a devoted philanthropist in support of the Saratoga community.

May his memory be eternal.