John Hendrickson, a successful businessman who is thoroughly immersed in the Thoroughbred world, hopes to modernize the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, making it more accessible to a younger generation.
Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson started the program a decade ago that celebrates the workers who take care of Thoroughbreds, and it is still going strong, with nightly activities on the backstretch at Saratoga.
Marylou Whitney's Bird Song took the lead after a half-mile and kept Realm and Tale of S'avall at bay in the stretch to earn his first graded stakes victory in the $100,000 Fred W. Hooper Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park March 4.
In recognition of a $250,000 gift from prominent racehorse owner, philanthropist and Saratoga icon Marylou Whitney, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will name its courtyard in honor of her late husband, Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney.
The new Saratoga Walk of Fame honoring achievements of those who have made significant contributions to racing as well as to the advancement of Saratoga Race Course, will be ready for visitors when the meet opens July 24.
Marylou Whitney will be honored by Churchill Downs with the designation of "First Lady of the Oaks" during a celebration on Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) day, May 1, at Churchill.
In her first try at two turns, Vexed delivered a hard-fought victory over nine other juvenile fillies in the $169,050 Golden Rod Stakes (gr. II) Nov. 30 at Churchill Downs.
John Hendrickson and Marylou Whitney donated $10,000 to the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters association during the 54th annual awards dinner at The Derby restaurant in Arcadia, Ca. Oct. 30.
Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson will receive the community service award at Race Track Chaplaincy of America's White Horse Award Luncheon Oct. 31, 2013 at The Derby Restaurant in Arcadia, Calif.
Sesquicentennial events made 2103 the summer of Marylou Whitney.
Thousands jam Broadway for the event of the season.
Whitney viewing stand unveiled at Oklahoma.
Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson are underwriting the $75,000 Saratoga 150 promotion that offers five fans the opportunity of betting $15,000 to win on one horse in a key stakes race.
Trainer Nick Zito refelcts on what Saratoga means to him. Nick tells his story of the 2004 Travers with Birdstone, The Cliff's Edge and Marylou Whitney.
The New York Racing Association and the Saratoga 150 Committee unveiled their Hoofprints Walk of Fame July 12 honoring the most accomplished Thoroughbreds to compete at Saratoga Race Course during its 150-year history.
High quality racing, customer service, and history were the subjects of a New York Racing Association media event June 24 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., at which the organization's executives detailed plans for this year's meet.
Patterned after Hollywood's Walk of Fame, the new attraction is part of the 150th anniversary of Thoroughbred racing at the track. New York Racing Association and the Saratoga 150 Committee announced plans.
Twelve who are making a difference in the industry.
Five race fans will have the opportunity to win thousands of dollars through a promotion that will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Saratoga Race Course this summer.
Hernandez had probably recorded the biggest triumph of his life and seemed more pre-occupied with helping the media know how Fort Larned managed to win than with celebrating.
Smarty Jones was "The People's Horse" as he went for the Triple Crown in 2004, but Marylou Whitney's Birdstone spoiled the party for a record crowd at Belmont Park.
The Jockey Club today announced the election of five new members: Madeline Auerbach, Nick Eaves, Charles Hayward, Johnny Weatherby, and Marylou Whitney.
Attendance, handle and Marylou again highlight the third Friday.
Softball precedes a busy social season.
Lenny and Steve reflect on the Independence Day racing weekend, John Veitch, Saratoga, and Lefty Lenny the Legend.
Transcript and video of Marylou Whitney's Eclipse Award of Merit Speech
One of the most hotly debated races for Horse of the Year honors in recent memory will conclude tonight, Monday, Jan. 17, with the announcement of whether it is finalist (in alphabetical order) Blame, Goldikova, or Zenyatt
Marylou Whitney and Richard Duchossois have plenty to offer about the sport's future.
Horse owner, breeder, and philanthropist Marylou Whitney will be honored with an Eclipse Award of Merit for a "lifetime of outstanding achievement in Thoroughbred racing."
The ingredients didn't seem very special, and yet the day turned out swell.
A trio of Yorkshire terriers upstage a couple of Thoroughbreds.
Tim Ice, trainer of Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Summer Bird, will shift his stable from Louisiana to New York following the end of the Oaklawn Park meet next spring, he said Nov. 2.
Horse owner and breeder Jess Jackson said May 13 that entering super filly Rachel Alexandra against males in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) is not a battle of the sexes but rather a sporting gesture designed to have the best horses racing against each other.
John Hendrickson, husband and racing and breeding manager for Marylou Whitney, said neither he nor Marylou have ever spoken to Ahmed Zayat, and although they plan on running Luv Gov in the Preakness (gr. I) at the request of trainer D. Wayne Lukas, they would withdraw him if it meant excluding Rachel Alexandra.
After being besieged with unfavorable comments regarding his earlier decision to enter enough horses to prevent Rachel Alexandra from running in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I), Ahmed Zayat, owner of Pioneerof the Nile, said on TVG that he has decided to reconsider and will not enter any other horses.
For the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), Lukas has not one, not two, but three fillies that are looking to take the lilies from overwhelming favorite Rachel Alexandra...or at least get a whiff of them by checking in second, third, or even fourth.
The Prevention Council will host its first annual fundraising event, the "Dare to Dream Gala," with honorary chairpersons Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson at the Saratoga Polo Club Aug. 13. The gala will honor Jerry Bailey's victory over substance abuse.
2007 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winning trainer Todd Pletcher will be honored by the Center for Disability Services at the 14th annual RJ Valente Siro's Cup at Siro's Restaurant in Saratoga Springs on the eve of opening day at Saratoga Race Course.
Saratoga's first three weeks were marked by muggy hot weather followed by splendid cool days and nights, a card cancellation, upsets, an onslaught of New York-bred races, declining attendance, numerous mishaps at the starting gate, and soap opera politics. Will the next 18 days be as rocky as the past 17 days?
<i>By Ray Paulick</i> - In the few steps she took, in that brief appearance in the Saratoga winner's circle, fans and admirers of Marylou Whitney witnessed uncommon courage and the heart of a champion.
Whatever the reason, they missed the full effect of a perfectly delightful day. Racing doesn't get much better than the product put forth at Saratoga on Saturday.
Todd Pletcher, who two weeks ago set a North American record for earnings in a year by a trainer, submitted the names of 17 horses for early-bird nomination to the April 1 Florida Derby (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park.
<i>By Ray Paulick</i> - The stars were aligned at Saratoga last summer when Marylou Whitney's Birdstone was victorious in the Spa meeting's most prestigious race, the Travers (gr. I). No one personifies Saratoga Springs better than Whitney, whose tireless dedication to fund-raising for numerous charities reaches its zenith during the summer race meeting.
Maylou Whitney and her husband, John Hendrickson, who won the grade I Belmont Stakes and Travers last year and the Kentucky Oaks in 2003, have hired Nick Zito assistant Reynaldo Abreu as their private trainer.
The Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders announced Marylou Whitney's Dear Birdie has been chosen 2004 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year.
Ghostzapper, the powerful winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), led the list of 2004 award winners announced by the New York Turf Writers' Association March 23.
Sing and Swing, the first mare bred to grade I winner Birdstone, has been pronounced in foal at Gainesway Farm.
Bird Town, Marylou Whitney's champion 3-year-old filly of 2003, produced her first offspring, an Empire Maker colt.
Marylou Whitney's Birdstone, who was retired earlier the week of Nov. 1 after suffering a chip fracture in his left front ankle, will stand at Gainesway Farm near Lexington, Ky., Whitney's husband, John Hendrickson, said Nov. 5.
Marylou Whitney's Birdstone, winner of the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and Travers Stakes (gr. I) this year, has been retired after a routine radiograph taken Nov. 2 revealed a P-1 medial chip in the colt's left front ankle.
