The racing community is mourning the death of Marylou Whitney’s longtime husband John Hendrickson.

Whitney and Hendrickson were longtime philanthropists. Among the causes they championed were improving the lives of children, backstretch workers and horses.

Dave O’Rourke, president and CEO of the New York Racing Association issued a statement on Hendrickson’s death:

“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,” he said in a statement. “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.”

Whitney died in 2019.  

Hendrickson married Whitney in 1997. Whitney and Hendrickson created the Saratoga Backstretch Appreciation Program in 2008. It organized free events to help the backstretch workers such as dinners and movie nights.

Hendrickson’s close friend of roughly 30 years, Charles Wait worked together on the NYRA Board for many years. He deeply appreciated Hensrickon’s work ethic.

“I think my favorite memories of John had to be at the NYRA meetings because…there were lots of times when issues came up that really could have hurt Saratoga. He was a very strong supporter of the Saratoga track and the Saratoga season.”

Wait met Hendrickson on the tennis court. Hendrickson creamed him. It was the start of an amazing friendship.

“What made John’s friendship really valuable was he would tell you the truth. If he agreed with you, he would tell you. If he disagreed with you, he would tell on certain terms. That’s really valuable in a friendship,” Wait said.

Hendrickson had previously moved from New York to Florida. NewsChannel 13 reported in March that the couple’s historic Cady Hill mansion was for sale for $16 million.

Hendrickson was named chair of the Board of National Museum of Racing in 2017. He also taught professional tennis and served as an aide to Alaska Gov. Walter Hickel.

Hendrickson appeared in a segment of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in 1989 about Alaskan men looking for brides. He met Whitney on one of her sledding adventures, according to an article that ran on Dec. 10, 1997 in The Buffalo News.

 The couple quietly got married in October 1997. Hendrickson was 32 at that time and she was 71. The two ran Whitney Industries for a time.

There was no word on a cause of death or information about funeral services.

NewsChannel 13 is working on this story and will bring you details on air and online.