John Hendrickson

The 2-year-old filly Alyeska (Vekoma), an eye-catching, come-from-behind debut winner carrying the famed Marylou Whitney silks at Churchill Downs Sept. 20, brought a sale-topping $675,000 from bloodstock agent Steve Young at Keeneland's single-session November Horses of Racing Age sale Thursday, which produced substantial across-the-board increases. Fellow Marylou Whitney homebred and the once-raced 2-year-old colt Captain Cook (Practical Joke), a troubled sixth on debut beneath the Twin Spires Oct. 27, was also purchased by Young for $410,000, the second-most expensive lot of the day. The duo were both previously trained by...

LEXINGTON, KY--With the Breeders' Cup squarely in the rearview mirror, the breeding stock sales take center stage this week, highlighted by the start of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale Tuesday. This year's November Sale, which has cataloged 3,384 horses, spans a total of nine sessions through Nov. 13. The stand-alone Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale will take place Nov. 14. In 2023, a total of 2,128 horses had sold through the ring for $176,571,000. The average was $82,975, while the median closed out at $32,000. "It's a...

Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 361 entries for its October Digital Sale with bidding now open through Tuesday, Oct. 8, beginning at 12 p.m. ET., the auction house said in a Thursday release. "The October Digital Sale is our largest digital sale to date," said Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales Leif Aaron. "With our industry leading 83% clearance rate in 2024, buyers and sellers can both have confidence that they can get a horse bought or sold on Fasig-Tipton Digital." The catalogue includes 60-plus yearlings and weanlings, 80-plus horses of racing age,...

Charlotte C. Weber has been chosen as the interim board chair of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame through a vote by the institution's executive committee. Weber, previously a vice chair, will serve in the chair position formerly held by John Hendrickson, who passed away Aug. 19. Hendrickson was the museum's chair since 2017. Weber has been a museum trustee since 2001.

Open to the public, a celebration of the life of John Hendrickson will take place at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame on Friday, Aug. 30 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET., the Saratoga repository said in a Thursday press release. Hendrickson, the museum's chairman since August 2017, passed away unexpectedly Monday at the age of 59. His services will be private.

The day after the sudden passing of philanthropist John Hendrickson, the racing community he had helped so much was mourning his passing. Hendrickson, who married Marylou Whitney in 1997, became the racing manager for Marylou Whitney Stables in addition to serving as president and chief operating officer of Whitney Industries. Hendrickson continued the racing stable after Whitney died in 2019 at the age of 93, campaigning graded stakes winners Pretty Birdie and Super Quick under the Marylou Whitney Stables banner. Hendrickson led numerous initiatives that enhanced Saratoga's National Museum of...

John Hendrickson, a philanthropist who was the husband of the late Marylou Whitney, died suddenly at a Saratoga hospital Aug. 19, according to the Albany Times-Union Monday. The Albany Times-Union reported that Hendrickson became ill at around midday and later died at the hospital. The cause of death has not been disclosed. Maureen Lewi, longtime friend to Whitney and Hendrickson, was with him in the hospital and confirmed his death to the Times-Union. "I was at the hospital holding his hand," Lewi told the Times-Union. "I was talking to him,...

Nancy Underwood has been named executive director of the Backstretch Employee Service Team. Underwood succeeds Paul Ruchames, who retired in December after 14 years leading the organization. Founded in 1989, BEST is a non-profit organization devoted to supporting the health and well-being of the backstretch community living and working at Saratoga Race Course and Belmont Park. BEST provides on-site counseling and primary healthcare services, access to health insurance, and case management assistance. Much of this work is accomplished by the dedicated BEST staff located at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race...

Sunday evening dinners have always been a hit among the many backstretch appreciation events that go on throughout the Saratoga race meet, but this summer the affair has become an ever bigger attraction now that Morrissey's Lounge and Bistro at the Adelphi Hotel is catering the weekly celebration. Every Sunday just before 6 p.m., upbeat music and savory smells reach Union Avenue as a crowd gathers at the Marylou Whitney Pavilion. With dozens of volunteers on hand, the vast smorgasbord of food remains open until 8:30 so that workers who...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. joined Assemblymember Carrie Woerner, philanthropist John Hendrickson and representatives from Saratoga Hospital, the Backstretch Employee Service Team and the New York Thoroughbred Horseman's Association for a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the opening of the new Saratoga Backstretch Clinic at historic Saratoga Race Course on Tuesday. The Saratoga Backstretch Clinic will allow Saratoga Hospital and BEST to expand on the existing healthcare services offered to members of NYRA's backstretch community. Located just inside Gate 16, the backstretch clinic was constructed over the past year to replace...

Officials from the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will welcome Assemblymember Carrie Woerner, philanthropist John Hendrickson and representatives from Saratoga Hospital and the Backstretch Employee Service Team (BEST) for a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the opening of the new Saratoga Backstretch Clinic next Tuesday, July 11, the organization said in a release Friday. The new clinic will allow Saratoga Hospital and BEST to expand on the existing healthcare services offered to members of NYRA's backstretch community. The modern healthcare clinic was constructed over the past year to replace a doublewide...

Churchill Downs Incorporated will donate "Against All Odds," an inspiring bronze statue by Edwin Bogucki, to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame as part of the Museum's permanent collection. The statue will be unveiled at its new home in Saratoga Springs July 12. "Against All Odds" depicts the thrilling photo finish victory of John Henry with jockey William Shoemaker in the irons as they ran down The Bart in the shadow of the wire in the inaugural running of the Arlington Million in 1981, the first Thoroughbred...