John Hendrickson, who continued his wife Marylou Whitney’s philanthropic legacy after her death in 2019 and was known for his love of horse racing, Saratoga Springs and the straight-line workers at Saratoga Race Course, has died at the age of 59, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Hendrickson, a former professional tennis coach and former adviser to an Alaska 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 Union Avenue racetrack, the backstretch community, and the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. He continued his work in these areas after Whitney died in 2019 at age 93.
The couple helped found the Backstretch Appreciation Program in 2008, which provides free meals from local restaurants to track workers during competitions at Saratoga. Hendrickson spearheaded the creation of a medical clinic for track workers in 2023.
In 2015, the couple donated $500,000 to create Centennial Park at the corner of Union Avenue and Circular Street as a gift to mark the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Saratoga Springs Charter. The small park features a life-sized statue of the thoroughbred champion Native Dancer.
Since 2017, Hendrickson has also served as chairman of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, leading a fundraising campaign to modernize the facility, which is located across the street from the racetrack.
He operated the Marylou Whitney Stables based in Saratoga.
In 2016, Hendrickson resigned from his position as special advisor to the board of the then-state New York Racing Association because he was dissatisfied with Governor Andrew Cuomo’s stance on racing.
Hendrickson has put several of his properties up 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.
