Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, who bred Native Dancer among his 77 stakes winners and was instrumental in helping thoroughbred racing gain exposure on television, and John Hay Whitney, an owner, breeder and leader of the sport for more than 50 years, have been elected posthumously to the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame.
Vanderbilt, who operated Pimlico Race Course and Belmont Park at the same time in the 1940s, also brokered the famous match race between Seabiscuit and War Admiral in the Pimlico Special in 1938 and a few years later presided over New York's transition from bookmakers to pari-mutuel betting.
Whitney inherited a control of Greentree Stable in 1944 with his sister, Joan Whitney Payson, and their previously separate racing and breeding endeavours were combined under the Greentree banner. The best horse Whitney ever owned was Tom Fool, who won all 10 of his races as a 4-year-old in 1953.
Vanderbilt and Whitney will be inducted Aug. 7 as Pillars of the Turf.
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