SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — John Hendrickson was often referred to as the husband of the “Queen of Saratoga,” but his lasting contributions to horse racing and the Spa City itself leave behind a legacy of note that will never be forgotten.
Following his unexpected death Monday , individuals from all walks of life mourned the loss of a beloved philanthropist, horse enthusiast and Saratogian. Hailing from Alaska, Hendrickson graduated from West High School in Anchorage, was a former state tennis champion and tennis instructor, and was a former aide to Gov. Walter J.
Hickel. Following an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show in 1989, having taken part in a segment concerning Alaskan men looking for brides, Hendrickson met his future wife, racing icon, philanthropist and socialite Marylou Whitney, while Whitney was on a trip in Alaska. They were married in 1997, and Hendrickson became racing manager for Marylou Whitney Stable as well as president and chief operating officer of Whitney Industries.
Together, Whitney and Hendrickson also created the Saratoga Backstretch Appreciation Program in 2008, organizing free events and services for backstretch workers. Following Whitney’s death in 2019 at 93, Hendrickson continued to support backstretch appreciation dinners, English as a Second Language classes, and entertainment, among other initiatives as well as financing the construction of a new backstretch clinic, which opened in 2023 and provides on-site healthcare services at Sara.