Clement Hirsch purchased his first Thoroughbred racehorse in 1947. A rarity in the racing industry, during his more than fifty years racing horses, Hirsch employed only two
trainers. He first hired Robert H. McDaniel (Red McDaniel), then after he decided to move to
Las Vegas, he hired Warren Stute, who remained with him for more than forty years. A member of
The Jockey Club, as an owner Hirsch was successful with a number of horses imported from
South America, among them the colt
Figonero, who won the 1969
Hollywood Gold Cup and set a world record for in winning the
Del Mar Handicap. Hirsch was also successful with the
filly Magical Maiden, who won the 1991
Hollywood Starlet and the 1992
Las Virgenes Stakes. In 1993, Magical Maiden won the Chula Vista Handicap at Del Mar Racetrack, a race that track officials eventually renamed the
Clement L. Hirsch Handicap in his honor. Hirsch retired Magical Maiden to broodmare duty. She is the granddam of 2009
Kentucky Derby entrant
Papa Clem and 2021 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprinter winner Ce Ce through her GI-winning daughter Miss Houdini. Papa Clem and Ce Ce are both owned by Hirsch's son Bo Hirsch. The name "Papa Clem" stems from the name Clement Hirsch's grandchildren called him, and that horse was trained by Gary Stute, Warren Stute's nephew. While successful racing horses, Hirsch is best remembered in the sport as a co-founder and President of the
Oak Tree Racing Association. In 1968 the operators of
Del Mar Racetrack in
Del Mar, California decided to cancel their fall racing program and to host only a summer meet. Hirsch, along with businessman/racehorse owner
Louis R. Rowan,
veterinarian Dr. Jack Robbins, and other racing enthusiasts, formed the Oak Tree Racing Association to annually host a fall meet at
Santa Anita Park. It proved to be highly successful, and Hirsch served as its president from its inception until his death in 2000. In 1998, Hirsch was awarded the Commissioners Cup by the
National Thoroughbred Racing Association. Following his death in 2000, the Oak Tree Racing Association honored him by changing the Oak Tree Turf Championship Stakes to the
Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship for the 2000 renewal. Hirsch was selected for induction into the
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2024 as a "Pillar of the Turf." ==References==