John Hendrickson, who carried on the philanthropic legacy of his wife, Marylou Whitney, after she died in 2019, and was known for his love of horse racing, Saratoga Springs and backstretch workers at Saratoga Race Course, passed away unexpectedly Monday at the age of 59.
Hendrickson, a onetime professional tennis instructor and former aide to an Alaskan governor, married Marylou Whitney, a well-known socialite and widow of Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, in 1997.
He and Whitney were major philanthropists, particularly to the city of Saratoga Springs, its historic racetrack on Union Avenue, the backstretch community and the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. His work in those areas continued after Whitney died at the age of 93 in 2019.
The couple helped create the Backstretch Appreciation Program, which helps feed track workers with food from area restaurants at no cost during Saratoga meets, in 2008. Hendrickson spearheaded the creation of a medical clinic for backstretch workers in 2023.
In 2015, the couple provided $500,000 toward the creation of Centennial Park, located at Union Avenue and Circular Street, as a gift on the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Saratoga Springs charter. The pocket park features a life-sized statue of the champion thoroughbred Native Dancer.
Hendrickson also served as the chairman of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame since 2017. He oversaw a fund-raising campaign that modernized the facility, which is located across the street from the track.
He operated the Saratoga-based Marylou Whitney Stables.
In 2016, Hendrickson resigned as a special adviser to the then-state-run New York Racing Association’s board of directors, claiming he was frustrated Gov. Andrew Cuomo's approach toward racing.
Hendrickson put up several of his properties for sale since Whitney's death, including the iconic Cady Hill in Saratoga and Camp On A Point on Little Tupper Lake in Hamilton County.
“The New York Racing Association mourns the sudden passing of John Hendrickson, longtime husband to Mrs. Marylou Whitney,“ NYRA President and CEO Dave O’Rourke said in a statement. “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.”