Marc and Sheree Holliday to Receive Chaplaincy Honor at Saratoga Brunch

The New York Race Track Chaplaincy has named Marc and Sheree Holliday as this year's recipients of the John Hendrickson and Marylou Whitney Award, recognizing the couple's sustained support of the backstretch community at Saratoga and beyond. The honor will be presented at the 19th Annual Fundraising Brunch on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at the Saratoga National Golf Club in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Marc Holliday brings considerable racing credibility to the recognition. He is a Thoroughbred owner and breeder and currently serves as chairman of The New York Racing Association, Inc. Sheree Holliday is an avid and competitive equestrian in her own right. Together, the couple has backed several NY Race Track Chaplaincy programs, with the organization's weekly food pantry drawing particular benefit from their generosity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The philanthropic reach extends well beyond the track. Marc Holliday and his team at SL Green formed the Food1st Foundation in 2020, which has since raised nearly $9 million and delivered nearly 1.1 million meals to vulnerable populations and first responders across New York, while also helping revitalize the city's battered food and beverage industry through the pandemic's worst stretches.

Ramón Dominguez, President of the Board of the NY Race Track Chaplaincy, framed the honor in direct terms. "As Thoroughbred owners, Marc and Sheree Holliday have first-hand knowledge about the dedication of the people who live and work in the backstretch community and they consistently support those workers and their families," Dominguez said. "They richly deserve this honor and we look forward to thanking them in August for all they do to improve the quality of life on the backstretch."

Marc Holliday responded on behalf of himself and Sheree: "It is a privilege for Sheree and me to be part of this year's brunch. The Chaplaincy's commitment to supporting the backstretch community reflects compassion and dignity in action, and we are grateful to help shine a light on their important mission."

The award itself carries significant history within the sport. Its namesakes, Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson, are among the previous recipients of the Chaplaincy's annual honor, a list that also includes jockeys Edgar Prado, Irad Ortiz Jr., and Johnny and Leona Velazquez, who received the recognition last year, as well as trainers Tracy and Todd Pletcher and Kiaran McLaughlin and his wife Letty, among others. Each year, the honoree receives a print from equine artist Tom Chapman at the brunch. The 2025 edition drew approximately 350 attendees, underscoring the event's foothold as one of racing's more meaningful off-track gatherings during the Saratoga meet.