The Whitney family is an American family notable for their social prominence, wealth, business enterprises and philanthropy founded by John Whitney (1592-1673) who came from London, England to Watertown, Massachusetts in 1635. There are a number of very prominent members of this family including inventor Eli Whitney.

The New York Whitneys

Rise to prominence

The prominence of the New York branch of the Whitney family began with William Collins Whitney (1841-1904). Born in Conway, Massachusetts, he was a younger brother to Boston industrialist Henry Melville Whitney (1839-1923). William Collins Whitney became an extremely wealthy businessman who made the Whitney name synonymous with thoroughbred horse racing in the United States.

Horse racing

The Whitney Handicap at Saratoga Race Course is named in the family's honor. Whitney-owned horses have won every major race in the United States including multiple wins at the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. Members of the family also maintained stables and breeding facilities in Newmarket (in Suffolk, United Kingdom), where they won important races including the prestigious Epsom Derby.

A number of the New York Whitney family members were owners of thoroughbred racing operations under various names including Greentree Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. Today, Whitney family members remain involved with horse racing, notably in 2004 when Marylou Whitney apologized on national television for denying Smarty Jones the U.S. Triple Crown after her colt Birdstone won the Belmont Stakes.

Other endeavors

In addition to horse racing, a number of Whitney family members were important financiers and business owners, statesmen, philanthropists. Joan Whitney Payson, an avid sportswoman, was the first owner of the New York Mets Major League Baseball team from its founding in 1962 until her death in 1975. The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City was founded by a Whitney-by-marriage, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney.

Prominent descendants of John Whitney

• Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney (1899-1992)
• Dorothy Payne Whitney (1887-1968)
• Eli Whitney (1765-1825)
• Flora Payne Whitney (1897-1986)
• Harry Payne Whitney (1872-1930)
• Henry Melville Whitney (1839-1923)
• Henry Mitchell Whitney (1843-1911)
• Joan Whitney Payson (1903-1975)
• John Hay Whitney (1905-1982)
• Pauline Payne Whitney (1874-1916)
• Payne Whitney (1876-1927)
• William Collins Whitney (1841-1904)

By marriage:

• Mary Elizabeth Altemus (1906-1988)
• Betsey Cushing (1908-1998)
• Leonard K. Elmhirst (1893-1974)
• Marie Louise Schroeder (b. 1925)
• Willard Dickerman Straight (1880-1918)
• Gertrude Vanderbilt (1875-1942)

External links

• Whitney Research Group - dedicated to the scholarly research of Whitney families around the world and throughout history.
• 25 Jul 2008 Bloodhorse.com article titled The Whitney Handicap: a look at a treasured American family