38 Facts About Marylou Whitney

Marylou Whitney was an American socialite and philanthropist.

Marylou Whitney dispersed his stock in the 1980s, not wanting to burden his wife with the business.

Marylou Whitney purchased Dear Birdie, who proved to be the foundation for "Marylou Whitney Stables".

Marylou Whitney 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.

Marylou Whitney bred and raced champion filly Bird Town, who holds the record for the fastest Kentucky Oaks in history.

Marylou Whitney is the only woman to breed and race a Kentucky Oaks winner.

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, where the Marylou Whitney Barn is stationed.

Marylou Whitney believed in finding retired racehorses new careers and loving homes once their racing careers ended.

In 2009, when there was a suggestion that an owner could enter another horse to block the filly Rachel Alexandra from running in the Preakness Stakes, Marylou Whitney said that if needed, she would withdraw her own horse to make room for the filly.

Marylou Whitney was awarded the Eclipse Award of Merit in 2010, one of the thoroughbred industry's highest honors.

Marylou Whitney was voted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2019 as one of its esteemed Pillars of the Turf.

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

Marylou Whitney was one of the first hosts of the annual Cardinal Hill Telethon and was involved with the hospital for over forty years.

Marylou Whitney contributed to organizations such as the Kentucky Aviation Museum and Sayre School.

Marylou Whitney was instrumental in many philanthropic endeavors to support the town and its residents.

Marylou Whitney had advocated for the museum since its inception.

Marylou Whitney was supportive of the Saratoga Hospital, where the cardiac catheterization lab is named in her honor.

Marylou Whitney was a founder of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center and she helped underwrite the New York City Ballet's summer residency at SPAC.

Marylou Whitney was awarded the First Star on the Walk of Fame for her timeless efforts.

Marylou Whitney supported the Saratoga YMCA, having the newly built pool named in her honor.

Marylou Whitney suffered a stroke in early 2006, which seriously curtailed her activities in Saratoga during the 2006 meet where traditionally she was a leading social figure.

Marylou Whitney was the largest private landowner in the state of New York by owning Whitney Park.

Marylou Whitney had ties to the Long Lake area in the Adirondacks.

Marylou Whitney is a supporter of the Long Lake United Methodist Church.

In New York City, Marylou Whitney was one of the first supporters and largest underwriters of the USO.

Marylou Whitney 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".

Marylou Whitney's show was reported to have a better rating than her dear friend, Walter Cronkite.

In 1992, Whitney served alongside Michael J Roarty, former vice president of marketing for Anheuser Busch ; US representative Jack Kemp ; Senator Bill Bradley ; ASA president Lou Schwartz ; and boxing champion Jose Torres.

In 1993, Marylou Whitney served as Dinner Chairman along with Mike Roarty, and Lou Schwartz.

Marylou Whitney had many residences, including her "Cady Hill" estate in Saratoga Springs New York; a massive camp in the Adirondack Mountains; a farm near Lexington, Kentucky; a winter home in Florida; an apartment in New York City; and a residence in Alaska, the home state of her third husband.

Marylou Whitney was a member of the Historic St Augustine Preservation Board in the early 1970s, and for her efforts in restoring downtown St Augustine, Florida, the government of Spain awarded her the Order of Isabel the Catholic.

Marylou Whitney was 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.

Marylou Whitney continued to present the Whitney Cup at Whitney Field in Saratoga Springs each year.

Marylou Whitney was the largest private donor to the 1980 Olympic Winter Games held in Lake Placid, New York.

Marylou Whitney flew from Anchorage to Nome, monitoring her dogs and her sponsored musher, Martin Buser, along the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race numerous times.

Marylou Whitney has been known to rough it with the other spectators and enjoys the dogs and the people.

The Marylou Whitney Rose was planted in the Yaddo Rose Garden in Saratoga Springs, New York.