Turf scribe legend Joe Hirsch passes away..
 

Joe Hirsch, the longtime columnist for Daily Racing Form and dean of American turf writers, died early Friday morning at St. Luke's Hospital in New York City. He was 80.

R.i.p.

RIP.

I just saw the article in the DRF and came here to post. Steve beat me to it.

RIP Mr. Hirsch.

RIP. We will miss you.

RIP Mr. Hirsch

r.i.p

I first met Joe in the early 1990s but got to know him better a few years later when I was working for the Daily Racing Form. He was having some trouble typing so I went to NYC to help work with some voice dictation software. That didn't end up helping much, but during the few days I was in town, we went to dinner several times and had the chance to talk.

Joe loved going to dinner and he loved assembling dinner parties. Toward the later years, it was hard to hear him if you weren't sitting next to him, but I think he truly enjoyed conversations generated by the people he'd brought together.
Over the years, I've had some fabulous conversations at wonderful restaurants with Joe. The last few minutes I've thought back on some of those dinners and while I enjoyed the company that sometimes showed up and the chance to go to restaurants I never would really be able to go to on my own, my favorite moments were the occasions when it was just us - the 20-something wannabe racing historian and the guy who had been there and had the T-shirt for everything since Citation.

Because of the physical difficulties presented by his condition, I'm sure some people wondered if his mind was slipping; but I can tell you that, at least as of the last time we shared a dinner, there was nothing wrong with his recall of racing that the rest of us have to settle with having read about.

The last time I was in NYC I tried to meet for dinner but he wasn't able to attend. I don't know how much further he was ravaged by Parkinsons in the four years since the last time we had met for dinner - along with a bunch of DRF people - but I watched his condition decline for over a decade so I harbor no illusions. What a terrible illness it is.

I wish I had something more, something grand, to say, but our acquaintance was so brief and glancing. I am glad, however, that our paths crossed at least a few times so I can say that I am among the many to have had the privilege of dining with Joe.

Paula..

Thanks so much for the thoughts on Joe Hirsch. Steve Crist and Steve Haskin today on 'At the Races' to talk about him.

My uncle died from Parkinsons.
Thanks for sharing.

A class act and gentleman in every way.....a true legend of the sport. His writing set the tone for the sport, which is rarely seen today. R.I.P Sir

He was a good writer, but naming a race after a living guy was moronic, especially a grade 1. It is like Al Sharpton naming buildings after himself.

You distinguish yourself more and more with every post around here. This one shows your complete lack of depth and knowledge or appreciation for anything meaningful in the game.

:D

there's a cure for what ails you...


may mr. hirsch rest in peace.

A great loss when he retired, and now he's gone. Sad day for the sport. He whetted my appetite for the sport when I was a teenager. Thank you, Mr. Hirsch, for making it come alive.

Hey Steve,
Invite this guy to Saratoga so I can smack the **** of him. Thank you KP