Popular long-time racing journalist Tony White has died after grappling with the effects of a stroke.

White, 64, suffered the stroke two years ago and since then had needed daily specialist attention.

He was based at Yamba on the NSW North Coast before relocating to Terrigal on the NSW Central Coast.

"Tony was a dedicated journalist who was extremely popular, not only with his peers, but with all participants in the NSW Racing Industry," Racing NSW chief executive, Peter V'landys, said.

"He devoted much of his life to writing on Thoroughbred racing and after covering racing in Sydney, moved to Grafton where his passionate coverage of country racing earned him our (Racing NSW) Country and Provincial Media Award (2005).

"We would like to pass on our sincere condolences to his daughter Shannon and his extended family and friends."

Tony worked at the Daily and Sunday Telegraphs during the 1980s having after beginning his career with Australian Associated Press.

He returned to AAP before moving to Grafton where he covered racing and general sport for the Daily Examiner before writing as a freelance, filing country racing articles for Racing NSW, Fairfax and AAP.

His father, 'Hard Luck' Hal White also worked for AAP and was a well-known figure in the Sydney racing media.

Before choosing journalism as a career, White was a champion surfer in the late 1970s and '80s competing on the world tour and last year was inducted to the Australian Surfing Walk of Fame at Maroubra Beach.