Bill Text: NY J02055 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Celebrating the life of Marylou Whitney, renowned socialite, legendary philanthropist and devoted member of her community

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-03-10 - REFERRED TO FINANCE [J02055 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-J02055-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 2055

BY: Senator JORDAN

        CELEBRATING  the life of Marylou Whitney, renowned
        socialite,  legendary  philanthropist  and   devoted
        member of her community

  WHEREAS,  It  is  with  profound  sorrow that this Legislative Body,
representing the people of the State of New York, is moved this  day  to
pay  tribute  to an eminent woman of indomitable dedication whose public
service and countless accomplishments will forever stand as  a  paradigm
and inspiration for others; and

  WHEREAS,  Marylou  Whitney  of  Saratoga  Springs, New York, died on
Friday, July 19, 2019, at the age of 93; and

  WHEREAS, Born on December 24, 1925, in Kansas City, Missouri,  Marie
Louise Schroeder was raised by her father, an accountant, and her mother
who  loved  equine and showed five-gaited Saddlehorses; after graduating
from Southwest High School, she attended the University of  Iowa  for  a
time before working as an actress and in radio; and

  WHEREAS,  In  1958,  after  separating from her first husband, Frank
Hosford, Marylou Whitney married Cornelius Vanderbilt  "Sonny"  Whitney,
the  grandson  of William C. Whitney who purchased and built the current
Saratoga Race Course in 1900; the  couple  teamed  up  to  race  horses,
winning  the  Travers  in  1960  with  Tompion  and  again  in 1968 with
Chompion; and

  WHEREAS, Marylou Whitney owned  several  properties,  but  her  main
residence  was  an  old  country  manor sitting on 135 acres in Saratoga
Springs, New York, called Cady Hill House, where she  was  renowned  for
hosting  her annual late-summer gala on the eve of the Whitney Stakes at
Saratoga Race Course; and

  WHEREAS,  Known  as  the  Queen  of  Saratoga,  Marylou  Whitney  is
responsible  for the iconic New York town's comeback, convincing NYRA to
keep Saratoga Race Course open as a viable part of its  racing  calendar
at a time when wagering and attendance sagged; her efforts and long-term
vision  continue  to  benefit  racing, with the Saratoga meet attracting
more than one million fans annually; and

  WHEREAS, Beyond  racing,  Marylou  Whitney  was  a  founder  of  the
Saratoga Performing Arts Center and helped establish the National Museum
of  Dance  and  Hall  of  Fame;  she also worked to restore the National
Museum of Racing, only a few blocks from the historic racetrack; and

  WHEREAS, After Sonny Whitney's death in 1992, Marylou Whitney formed
Marylou Whitney Stables which garnered industry-wide  acclaim  with  her
Eton  blue  and  brown  silks  quickly  becoming  synonymous with racing
excellence; her stable produced many champions, including Birdstone, the
2004 Belmont and Travers Stakes winner; and

  WHEREAS, Additionally, in all, Marylou Whitney Stables  earned  nine
graded stakes victories and campaigned more than 190 winners; and

  WHEREAS,  In  1994,  Marylou  Whitney  met John Hendrickson, who was
working as an aide to Alaska's then-governor Wally Hickel; they  married
in   Alaska   in   1997,   and  the  couple  continued  their  countless
philanthropic endeavors, serving as founding members of the Thoroughbred
Retirement  Foundation  and  as  founders of the Markey Cancer Center in
Lexington, Kentucky; and

  WHEREAS, Always by her  side,  John  Hendrickson  also  assumed  the
duties  of  President  of Whitney Industries, which manages the family's
lumber business and land holdings; and

  WHEREAS,  With  a  steadfast  and  unremitting  commitment  to   her
community,  Marylou  Whitney used her social standing to bring attention
and  funds  to  her  favored  causes,  including  equine  hospitals  and
research; and

  WHEREAS,   Furthermore,   she   funded   the   Saratoga  Backstretch
Appreciation program which hosted family  activities  and  cookouts  for
track   employees,   and   supported  a  Saratoga-based  equine  welfare
organization, the town's YMCA, several local parks and the hospital; and

  WHEREAS, In 2003, Marylou Whitney became the first woman in 80 years
to own and breed a Kentucky Oaks winner; she received an  Eclipse  Award
of  Merit  in 2010 for her contributions to racing, and was elected into
The Jockey Club in 2011; and

  WHEREAS, Marylou Whitney's participation in  Saratoga's  culture  is
the  most  significant  of anyone in her time; for seven decades she was
among the most successful owners in Thoroughbred racing; and

  WHEREAS, With her passion for racing only matched by  her  love  for
the  city  of  Saratoga  Springs  and the backstretch community, Marylou
Whitney's generosity was unparalleled and the list of her  contributions
is  endless;  Saratoga  would not be the destination it is today without
her esteemed leadership, dedication and support; and

  WHEREAS, In addition to her  beloved  husband,  Marylou  Whitney  is
survived  by  her  five  children,  Louise,  Frank,  Henry,  Heather and
Cornelia; and

  WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a  sense  of
compassion,  Marylou  Whitney  leaves  behind  a  legacy which will long
endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all
she served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
celebrate  the  life  of  Marylou Whitney, renowned socialite, legendary
philanthropist and devoted member of her community; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to the family of Marylou Whitney.