by Myra Lewyn

John Hettinger, a stalwart of the Thoroughbred industry who passionately championed horse welfare and tirelessly worked to end horse slaughter, died on Saturday morning at his Akindale Farm in Pawling, New York, after long illness. He was 74.

Hettinger was involved in many facets of the industry. He was a member of the board of trustees of the New York Racing Association and chairman emeritus of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. 

Horse welfare, rescue, and retirement were priorities for Hettinger, which earned him a Special Eclipse Award in 2000 for his efforts involving racehorse retirement programs. In 2001, he founded Blue Horse Charities, which was established to abolish the mistreatment of horses. The charity assists with rescue and placement of Thoroughbreds and is an offshoot of Fasig-Tipton Co.

“All of my best friends have four legs,” Hettinger once said when asked why he was such a devout horse advocate.

Hettinger’s profile in the Thoroughbred industry helped raise awareness in the racing industry about horse slaughter. His efforts to abolish the practice gained the backing on major racing organizations. 

“There are two things that flourish in the dark—mushrooms and horse slaughter,” Hettinger often said. “Most people don’t know it’s going on. We must deny them the darkness.”

During tough financial times for Fasig-Tipton in the early 1990s, Hettinger rescued North America’s oldest Thoroughbred auction company by supplying  40% ($2.4-million) of the firm’s $6-million recapitalization plan. He then supplied another $1.2-million from the trusts benefiting his sons, James and William. The funds were primarily used to pay off the sale company’s debts. The Hettingers gained voting control of the Fasig-Tipton in 1991 and held approximately 58% of voting power until it was sold to this spring to Dubai-based Synergy Investments Ltd.

Hettinger attended Yale and in 1955 earned a degree in American history. A fascination with the language and culture of Mexico took him to Mexico City, where he worked in sales and marketing for chemical corporation Celanese Corp. before starting up a real estate company in Spain with his wife, Betty.

The lucrative sale of a real-estate development near the Rock of Gibraltar allowed Hettinger to return to the United States in 1973, and he took over his father’s Akindale Farm, about 75 miles north of New York City. Hettinger expanded the property to 800 acres.

Homebreds campaigned by Hettinger include Grade 2 winner Lady d’Accord and Grade 3 winner Prospector’s Flag. Warfie delivered Hettinger his biggest thrill as an owner when she won the 1989 Long Island Handicap (G2).

Akindale also stood stallions such as D’Accord, Personal Flag, Sir Wimborne, and Stacked Pack.

Hettinger is survived by his wife, sons, and three grandchildren.

Myra Lewyn is an editor of Thoroughbred Times TODAY