NYRA's John Hennegan, patrol judge for Ruffian-Foolish Pleasure, dies at 84

John Hennegan, a long-time racing official for the New York Racing Association, died on April 11 after a battle with brain cancer, his family announced over the weekend. He was 84.

Henngan began working at NYRA in 1965 and worked for nearly 40 years spanning five decades. He worked as a patrol judge, assistant clerk of scales, clerk of scales and placing judge. He was a patrol judge for the famous Ruffian-Foolish Pleasure match race at Belmont Park and was an official in various capacities for the Triple Crown-clinching victories of Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed.

As a teenager growing up in Baltimore, Hennegan served as a ballboy for the NBA's Baltimore Bullets and operated the clubhouse elevator at Pimlico Race Course. He graduated from Calvert Hall College High School and attended LaSalle College in Philadelphia, where he briefly played basketball.

His affiliation with horse racing began with his father, who served as secretary for the now-defunct American Trainers Association in Maryland. Legendary horseman Alfred Vanderbilt helped young John get connected with NYRA to launch his long career as a racing official. Once in New York, he was fortunate to be mentored by the late horseman and television personality Frank Wright.

"John Hennegan was a hard worker, friend to all horsemen, and a loyal NYRA employee for nearly 40 years. He was everybody's friend, including mine,” retired Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero Jr. said. “He will be greatly missed."

No immediate plans have been made for a memorial, but something will be held to honor his life in the coming months. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation to the New York Race Track Chaplaincy in John’s name.

He is survived by his wife Nancy, his daughter Brooke, sons Brad and John, as well as four grandchildren.