If you didn’t know better, you’d have thought that the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was throwing a huge party, and that’s exactly how John Hendrickson would have wanted it.

Hendrickson died unexpectedly in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Aug. 19 after suffering cardiac arrest. He was 59 years old, and the news of his death rocked the upstate town, where Hendrickson had deep roots, especially in the racing community. On Friday, Aug. 30, the Museum, the board of which Hendrickson was chairman, held a celebration of life.

The event was open to the public, and the public turned out in force. Backstretch workers, prominent and affluent Thoroughbred owners and breeders, community members, and Hendrickson’s family mingled, sipped drinks, and enjoyed hors-d’oeuvres. People traveled from as far as California specifically to honor Hendrickson.

Continue reading at BloodHorse.com…