Marylou Whitney

Marylou Whitney (born Marie Louise Schroeder, December 24, 1925, Kansas City, Missouri) is a noted philanthropist and a prominent socialite. Whitney has many residences, first and foremost her "Cady Hill" estate in Saratoga Springs New York, a massive camp in the Adirondacks, a farm near Lexington, Kentucky, a winter home in Florida, an apartment in New York City and a residence in Alaska where her current husband is from.

Schroeder married Frank Hosford in 1948, and they had four children: Marion Louise "M'Lou", Frank "Hobbs", Henry "Hank", and Heather. After her divorce she married Cornelius Vanderbilt "Sonny" Whitney in 1958, and they had one daughter, Cornelia. CV "Sonny" Whitney died in 1992, leaving Marylou with an estate estimated at the time to be $100 million. In October 1997 Marylou married John Hendrickson, a (then) 32-year-old tennis champ and former aide to Governor Walter Joseph Hickel of Alaska. John proposed to Marylou in Buckingham Palace.

C.V. Whitney and his family were a major force in thoroughbred horse racing and have had more stakes winners than any other family in the history of racing in the United States. Whitney dispersed his stock in the 1980s. He did not want to burden his wife with the business. After C.V. Whitney's death, Marylou Whitney was determined to get back in the business and spent a substantial amount of time and money trying to find and buy back "Whitney Mares". Whitney found and bought Dear Birdie, who proved to be the foundation for "Marylou Whitney Stables". Dear Birdie was named Broodmare of the Year in 2004. She is the dam of Birdstone and Champion Bird Town. "Marylou Whitney Stables" bred, raced and stands Birdstone, the 2004 Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes winner. Birdstone is an important sire to the thoroughbred industry. He produced two classic winners in his first crop, 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, and eventual Three Year Old Champion of that year, Summer Bird. No stallion has sired two classic winners in his first crop since the late 19th century.^[1] Whitney also bred and raced champion filly Bird Town. Whitney is the only woman to breed and race a Kentucky Oaks winner. (Whitney has been a great influence on women in racing.) Bird Town still boasts the fastest Kentucky Oaks in history. In 2003, Whitney was honored by the New York Turf Writers with the Ogden Phipps Award (Top Breeder)for her accomplishments.^[2] Whitney gives back to the thoroughbred industry in many ways. She was one of the founding members of the The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and was the major contributor to the Secretariat Center at the Kentucky Horse Park, where the Marylou Whitney Barn is stationed. She firmly believes in finding retired racehorses new careers and loving homes once their racing careers have ended. Attached to each Jockey Club registration paper of every horse she breeds is a message indicating how to contact her if one of her horses needs a home.^[3][4]

Whitney's sportsmanship is well-known by those in the industry. When her colt Birdstone beat Smarty Jones in the Belmont to deny Smarty the Triple Crown she was apologetic.^[5] Whitney also stood up for racing in the 2009 Preakness when it was suggested that an owner would enter another horse to block the great filly Rachel Alexandra from running. Whitney was quick to say that she would withdraw her own horse to make room for the filly.^[6]

Mrs Whitney was awarded the Eclipse Award of Merit in 2010, one of the thoroughbred industry's highest honors.^{[7][8][9][10]}

As Whitney was accepting the Eclipse Award of Merit she was also honored by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Governor Cuomo's mother, Matilda, presented Whitney with a citation proclaiming her officially "the Queen of Saratoga" This was the first citation Governor Cuomo had given.^[11]

In 2011 Mrs. Whitney was elected to The Jockey Club.

In addition to her successful thoroughbred business in Kentucky, Whitney has been instrumental in donating and raising much needed funds for worthwhile medical institutions. Over $44 million was raised for the building and establishment of the Markey Cancer Center in Lexington. As one of the founders, Whitney has been a prime fund raiser and has made many television appearances on its behalf.

Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson donated $2.5 million for the Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson Cancer Facility for Women at the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center. The building was dedicated in Lexington, Kentucky in December, 2001 by officials from the University of Kentucky and the McDowell Cancer Foundation.^[12] The Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson Cancer Facility for Women is 45,465 square feet (4,223.8 m²) and opened in 2002. It provides multidisciplinary ambulatory care for women suffering from breast cancer, gynecologic cancers, and lung, hematologic, gastrointestinal and urologic cancers.^[13]

Marylou Whitney has co-chaired an annual luncheon in Saratoga to raise funds to battle breast cancer for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

The much-appreciated Stroke Recovery Center at Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital in Kentucky is also named in honor of Whitney and Hendrickson for their endless support of that facility. Whitney was one of the first hosts of the annual Cardinal Hill Telethon and has been involved with the hospital for over forty years.

The Headley-Whitney Museum received funds from Marylou and John for a new wing that is the home to exhibits from the Smithsonian Museum. The Museum is also home of the Cornelia Vanderbilt Whitney Dollhouses and other jewelry owned by Whitney. John Hendrickson funded the new "Marylou Whitney Garden" at the Museum as a replica of one of their personal gardens and presented it as an anniversary gift to Marylou. The Doll Houses have raised over half of a million dollars for charities and the garden is the setting for many weddings and private parties.^[14]

Whitney continues to support Kentucky interests by making significant contributions to organizations such as the Kentucky Aviation Museum and Sayre School. The elementary school is named in honor of Marylou Whitney, and the high school gymnasium is named after C.V. Whitney for their generous support.

Saratoga Springs

Whitney fell in love with Cady Hill and Saratoga Springs, NY when C.V. Whitney first brought her there in the late 1950s. Often referred to as the "Queen of Saratoga", Marylou Whitney has been instrumental in many philanthropic endeavors to support the town and its residents. As a founder of the National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame, Whitney helped raise over $1.5 million prior to the 1986 opening. The Hall of Fame is named after Marylou and C.V. Whitney. Marylou Whitney has been advocating for the Museum since its inception. She is also supportive of the Saratoga Hospital, where the cardiac catheterization lab is named in her honor. Whitney and her husband John also donated $1 million to the Radiation Onocology Center at the Saratoga Hospital. She was a founder of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) and she has helped underwrite the New York City Ballet's summer residency at SPAC. Whitney was awarded the First Star on the Walk of Fame for her timeless efforts. She also supports the Saratoga YMCA, having the newly built pool named in her honor. Her presence during the Saratoga Race Meet is greatly sought after for all of the events. She is the Honorary Chair and hosts numerous charities during the season as well.^[15]

Whitney suffered a stroke in early 2006, which seriously curtailed her activities in Saratoga during the 2006 meet (late July through early September) when traditionally she is a crucial social figure. While recovering she did manage to stay involved with her charities and supported the town and the race meet as best that she could. She is now back in full force. She and her husband, John Hendrickson, have intiated the Backstretch Appreciation program to benefit backstretch workers while working at Saratoga Race Course. Each night an activity is scheduled for the 2,000 employees such as dinners, bingo, movie, karaoke and a learn English night. Whitney and Hendrickson donate much time and money to this effort.^[16][17]

In the mid-1980s, Marylou Whitney asked C.V. Whitney that for her birthday he install air conditioning in the Canfield Casino. She did not want her guests to suffer the heat at her annual ball. Along with the Whitney Gala each year, the building is used for many fundraisers, weddings and other activities that benefit the community.^[18]

Adirondacks

Whitney has ties to the Long Lake area in the Adirondacks. Upon CV's death in 1992, Marylou inherited Whitney Industries, a large gravel and lumber business with 51,000 acres (210 km²) of critical Adirondack real estate. With John Hendrickson taking the lead in negotiations, some 14,700 acres (59 km²) were sold to New York State for $17.1 million, only after initially seeking rights to develop 40 exclusive shoreline estates on the western stretch of the Whitney Estate. Environmentalists strongly advocated New York State to purchase 14,700 acres.

The acquired lands are called the William C. Whitney Wilderness Area. Whitney is currently the largest landowner in the state by owning Whitney Park.

On July 16, 2007 Marylou Whitney and her husband John Hendrickson donated $250,000 to the Long Lake Library, a gift of five times the library's operating budget. In celebration of the gift, the library will be renamed The Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Long Lake Library. The Marylou Whitney Medical Complex in Long Lake, New York was also dedicated in her honor for her devotion to their needs. She is also a supporter of the Long Lake United Methodist Church.

New York City

In New York City, Whitney was one of the first supporters and largest underwriters of the USO. She was honored as USO Woman of the Year for her financial support and her support during World War II at which time she hosted a radio show called "Private Smiles". The show aired around the world from Kansas City. Her show was reported to have a better rating than her dear friend, Walter Cronkite.

In a nod to Marylou's radio persona husband Sonny later named a race horse "Pvt Smiles". Unfortunately Pvt Smiles competed against the legendary horse Secretariat in the 1973 Belmont Stakes^[19]

Other Interests

The Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming is tremendously important to Whitney, and she continuously supports The Whitney Gallery of Western Art. She has given over $1 million to the Museum since C.V. Whitney's death to continue to expand the Museum that he initially built.^[20]

The St. Augustine area in Florida is also of interest to Whitney, as C.V. Whitney founded Marineland, and she continues to financially support The Whiney/Hendrickson Marine Lab in honor of her late husband.^[21]

In addition to her devotion to so many worthwhile organizations, Whitney enjoys many other activities. She is an active spectator of polo and presented the Whitney Cup to Prince Charles and Geoffrey Kent's Polo Team at Cirincester on June 24, 1990. She continues to present the Whitney Cup at Whitney Field in Saratoga Springs each year.^[22]

Whitney was the largest private donor to the 1980 Olympic Games held in Lake Placid.

Whitney is also a great adventurer. She led an expedition with Norman Vaughan to the South Pole in 1995.^{[citation needed]} At that time, Colonel Vaughan was the only man alive who was on Admiral Byrd's first expedition to the south pole. His wish was to return there on his 90th birthday. They spent three and one half weeks in the Antarctic pitching their small tents each night under grueling conditions before reaching the South Pole. The United States Military at the South Pole Base treated them royally and gave them the American flag that was flying over the South Pole for their planned excursion to the North Pole several months later. They flew that flag over the North Pole with frost bitten fingers and polar bears headed toward them. It made history as the first time the same United States flag was flown over both poles, and the first time a female had ever accomplished both expeditions within a four month period. Whitney has always said that she will never regret having completed the adventure, although her fingers were numb and black upon her return home.

Whitney also has an interest in dog sled racing. She has flown from Anchorage to Nome monitoring her dogs and her sponsored musher, Martin Buser, along the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race numerous times. She was has been known to rough it with the other spectators and thoroughly enjoys the dogs and the people.

Recognitions

In 2010 a specially bred, long stem pink tea rose, hybridized by Canadian rose breeder Brad Jalbert^[23], was named in Whitney's honor. A gift for her 85th birthday from her husband John Hendrickson, the "Marylou Whitney Rose" will be the showcase rose in the "Marylou Whitney Rose Garden" at Congress Park near the entrance of the Canefield Casino. File:Marylou Whitney rose.JPG

The Marylou Whitney Rose was also planted in the Yaddo Rose Garden in Saratoga Springs, NY. The gift of the rose was accompanied by a $10,000.00 donation from Mrs. Whitney and her husband John Hendrickson to help with the upkeep of the gardens. http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2011/07/10/news/doc4e1a6898e40f8949168639.txt

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She was awarded in January 2011 an Eclipse Award of Merit for a "lifetime of outstanding achievement in Thoroughbred racing.^[25] Whitney was one of the founding members of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and was the major contributor to the Secretariat Center at the Kentucky Horse Park. She has supported efforts to find retired racehorses new careers once their racing days have concluded. Attached to each Jockey Club registration paper of every horse she breeds is a message indicating how to contact her if one of her horses needs a home.^[25] File:File:MLW at dedication of Congress Park Rose Garden.jpg

Photo gallery

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References

1. ^ "Birdstone: Grindstone - Dear Birdie, by Storm Bird". Gainesway.com. http://www.gainesway.com/horses/birdstone-196.html. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
2. ^ "New York Turf Writers Honor Mineshaft". BloodHorse.com. 2004-06-09. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/22926/new-york-turf-writers-honor-mineshaft#ixzz19KS9mz8C. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
3. ^ "Half brother to Birdstone and Bird Town rescued from slaughter". Thoroughbred Times. 2004-09-15. http://www.midatlantichorserescue.org/Thoroughbred%20Times%20Today's%20News.htm. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
4. ^ Hovdey, Jay (2009-06-10). "Endgame often depends on luck". Daily Racing Form. http://www.drf.com/news/endgame-often-depends-luck. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
5. ^ "Birdstone - 2004 Belmont winner". Horse Hats. 2004. http://www.horsehats.com/Birdstone.html. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
6. ^ May 13, 2009 (2009-05-13). "Rachel Alexandra | Women's Voices For Change". Womensvoicesforchange.org. http://womensvoicesforchange.org/tag/rachel-alexandra. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
7. ^ "What's Going On Here | Twin Pillars By Evan Hammonds | BloodHorse.com Blog Stable". Cs.bloodhorse.com. http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/wgoh/archive/2011/01/11/twin-pillars-by-evan-hammonds.aspx. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
8. ^ Paulick, Ray (2011-01-18). "Let's Come Together: Horse Racing's Circle of Life". Paulick Report. http://www.paulickreport.com/news/ray-s-paddock/let-s-come-together-horse-racing-s-circle-of-life/. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
9. ^ Paulick Report Staff (2011-01-17). "Transcript of Marylou Whitney's Eclipse Awards acceptance speech". Paulick Report. http://www.paulickreport.com/news/people/transcript-of-marylou-whitney-s-eclipse-awards-acceptance-speech. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
10. ^ now to post a comment! (2010-01-17). "40th Eclipse Awards: Marylou Whitney". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj_smDNtknA. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
11. ^ Rees, Jennie (2011-01-17). "Marylou gets Eclipse - and a New York proclamation". Blogs.courier-journal.com. http://blogs.courier-journal.com/racing/2011/01/17/marylou-gets-eclipse-and-a-new-york-proclamation/. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
12. ^ McArthur, Maureen (2001-12-08). "McDowell Cancer Foundation Holds Official Dedication for the Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson Cancer Facility for Women". University of Kentucky. http://www.uky.edu/PR/News/MCPRNews/2001/wcf.htm. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
13. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
14. ^ "Agency - Headley-Whitney Museum". Volunteer.truist.com. 2011-06-19. http://volunteer.truist.com/uwbg/org/16433328.html. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
15. ^ "Marylou Whitney gets a star". Schenectady: Daily Gazette. 2010-07-18. http://www.dailygazette.com/photos/galleries/2010/jul/18/marylou-whitney-gets-star/5636/. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
16. ^ Post, Paul (2010-06-28). "Summer of entertainment planned for backstretch workers at Saratoga Race Course". The Saratogian. http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2010/06/28/news/doc4c297233d9d9c177093204.txt. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
17. ^ Paulick, Ray (2006-08-08). "Queen of Saratoga". BloodHorse.com. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/34762/queen-of-saratoga. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
18. ^ Drape, Joe (2006-08-04). "Saratoga’s Grand Dame Must Forgo Big Night Out". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/04/sports/othersports/04racing.html?ref=marylouwhitney. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
19. ^ Tower, Whitney (1973-06-18). "Secretariat is 50 feet from the finish line and the race". Sports Illustrated. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1087463/index.htm. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
20. ^ [2]^{[dead link]}
21. ^ "Whitney Labs: The promise of basic research, the basis for discovery...". Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience. http://www.whitney.ufl.edu/. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
22. ^ "What's Happening". Saratoga Polo Association. http://www.saratogapolo.com/news/detail.cfm?newsID=55. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
23. ^ http://www.selectroses.ca/naming-notable/marylou-whitney-rose/
24. ^ "The Marylou Whitney Rose unveiled". The Saratogian. 2010-12-24. http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2010/12/24/news/doc4d13ff5b5832e328202812.txt. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
25. ^ ^{a b} "Eclipse Award of Merit to Marylou Whitney". BloodHorse.com. 2011-01-08. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/60603/eclipse-award-of-merit-to-marylou-whitney. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 

External links

• August 24, 1998, New York Magazine article on Marylou Whitney.
• http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/28/sports/horse-racing-the-odd-couple-of-the-backstretch.html?ref=marylouwhitney
• 2010 Marylou Whitney Rose
• http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2010/07/11/news/doc4c39156e1ae83740490063.txt
• http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/15247/secretariat-center-gets-financial-boost-from-ryanair-whitney
• http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/08/AR2006080801553.html
• http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2009/08/29/news/doc4a98964e5a5a1163980719.txt
• http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/finalturn/archive/2009/06/02/the-whitney-line-by-antony-beck.aspx
• http://blog.timesunion.com/saratogaseen/10-things-you-dont-know-about-marylou-whitney/6126/

Persondata
Name	Whitney, Marylou
Alternative names
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Date of birth	December 24, 1925
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death