SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — John Hendrickson, the chairman of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame since Aug.
2017, passed away unexpectedly Monday at the age of 59. “John Hendrickson was a visionary leader who had a tremendous passion for the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, the Saratoga Springs community, and racing in general,” said Cate Masterson, the Museum’s director. “He was truly one of a kind and this loss is immeasurable.
The entire Museum board and staff is deeply saddened by his passing. Our hearts are with his family and his numerous friends. We all loved him very much.
” A native of Alaska, where he was a former aide to Gov. Walter J. Hickel, Hendrickson married the late racing idol Marylou Whitney in 1997 and became the racing manager for Marylou Whitney Stables.
He was also president and chief operating officer of Whitney Industries. Hendrickson continued the racing stable after Whitney died in 2019 at the age of 93 and campaigned graded stakes winners Pretty Birdie and Super Quick under the Marylou Whitney Stables banner. Hendrickson led numerous initiatives that enhanced the Museum, including spearheading a $20 million capital campaign to develop a state-of-the-art Hall of Fame and introduce an innovative and immersive signature film experience, as well as numerous renovated and reimagined galleries.
He led the Museum through a time of great prosperity, as attendance and finances steadily improved during his tenure. Along with th.