NYRA, City of Saratoga Springs to honor Marylou Whitney

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The New York Racing Association and the city of Saratoga Springs announced Monday a few tributes to Marylou Whitney, the horse owner/breeder and philanthropist who died July 19 at the age of 93.

NYRA will rename the clubhouse entrance at Saratoga the “Marylou Whitney Entrance.” The entrance will be flanked by two jockey statues adorned in the Eton blue and brown silks of Whitney’s racing stables.

NYRA will formally celebrate Whitney ontrack on Saturday, the day of the $1 million Whitney Stakes, with a tribute video.

The city of Saratoga Springs also announced plans to rename Centennial Park for Whitney, which will now be known as “Marylou Whitney Park.” Located at the base of Union Avenue, the park is home to the statue of Native Dancer, the 1953 Preakness, Belmont Stakes, and Travers winner. The park was built in 2015 with funding provided by Whitney and her husband John Hendrickson, who commissioned the statue of Native Dancer and donated it as a gift to the residents of Saratoga Springs.

On Friday, Whitney is scheduled to be inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame as one of several Pillars of the Turf. That ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m.