A moment of silence was held at Saratoga Race Course Wednesday in honor of philanthropist John Hendrickson, who died Monday.

Hendrickson and his wife, Marylou Whitney, were Saratoga Springs fixtures and generous supporters of the Spa City community and their backing of the backstretch workers in particular is legendary.

The moment of silence came following the first race of the day.

U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko (D – Amsterdam) also weighed in on his passing.

“I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of John Hendrickson, a dedicated philanthropist whose contributions to the horse racing industry and to our Capital Region community will be felt for generations to come. John channeled his love of horse racing into positive change, serving as a relentless advocate for better horse racing policy and better conditions for backstretch workers and their families – showing kindness and empathy at every turn. Through his vision for improvements at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, he ensured his vision will continue its positive impact on the Saratoga Springs community and on the horse racing community at large. I extend my deepest condolences to all those who knew and loved John.”