Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez and his wife Leona will be honored with the newly renamed John Hendrickson and Marylou Whitney Award by the New York Race Track Chaplaincy (NYRTC). The award recognizes the couple for their longstanding support of the New York backstretch community and will be presented at NYRTC's 18th Annual Fundraising Brunch to be held Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, at Saratoga National Golf Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.
“Johnny and Leona have demonstrated a deep commitment to the backstretch community and they continue to set a tremendous example for others to follow,” said Ramon Dominguez, President of the Board of the NY Chaplaincy. “We are proud to honor them with this prestigious award.”
The annual award was originally known as the Marylou Whitney Award but it was renamed by the chaplaincy after the sudden passing of her husband John Hendrickson on Aug. 19, 2024.
“Like his late wife, John had a special place in his heart for the backstretch community and we thought renaming the award in this way was a fitting tribute to his legacy of humanitarian spirit,” Dominguez said.
Velazquez, who also serves on the board of directors of the NYRTC, has been an active member of The Jockeys' Guild and currently serves as the co-chair of that body. Leona Velazquez has served on the board of the Belmont Child Care Association and her family has been active for several decades in a variety of backstretch organizations.
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