Career
Born in Fredericksburg, Texas, Hirsch became one of the most successful trainers in Thoroughbred horse racing history. He spent part of his formative years working as a groom and jockey at Morris Ranch in Gillespie County, Texas. Hirsch conditioned horses for various owners including George West. Loft, Arthur B. Hancock, Morton L. Schwartz, Jane Greer, and Virginia Fair Vanderbilt but is best known for his work with the King Ranch Stable whom he joined in the 1930s and for whom he trained until his death in 1969.
A Hall of Fame inductee, Sarazen was the American Horse of the Year in 1924 and 1925.
Max Hirsch was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1959. Hirsch was featured in the eighth episode of season 2 of the Home Box Office Television series Boardwalk Empire, where he was played by Robert Dorfman.
There he was seen to be employed by Arnold Rothstein for training his racehorse, Sidereal.