The event was inaugurated as the
Chula Vista Handicap on July 17, 1937, as a five and one-half furlong race for two-year-olds bred in
California and was won by High Strike owned by singer
Bing Crosby. During the next few years there would be more distance changes. It was run at miles in 1973, 1 mile in 1974–1975, and seven and one-half
furlongs from 1976–1980, after which it was set at its current distance of miles. In 2000 it was renamed to honor
Clement L. Hirsch (1914–2000), a
Thoroughbred owner whose horse, Magical Maiden won this race in 1993. The event was classified as
Grade III in 1983, upgraded to Grade II in 1986 and a Grade I event in 2009. At the same time, conditions for the event changed from a handicap to a stakes format. In the 1980s when this event became a fillies and mares race it started to attract high calibre performers that would confirm the status of the event. Starting in 1984 with the winner
Princess Rooney who later that year would win the
Breeders' Cup Distaff and be crowned
US Champion Older Dirt Female Horse. The 1990 winner, the
Argentine bred mare
Bayakoa would rectify her unplaced finish from 1989 and would also win the
Breeders' Cup Distaff for the second time and retain her position as
US Champion Older Dirt Female Horse.
Allen E. Paulson's two-time winner of the event,
Azeri would become
US Horse of the Year in 2002.
Zenyatta proved her dominance in this event winning it three times and with that she continued on winning the 2009
Breeders' Cup Classic and in 2010 becoming
US Horse of the Year. ==Records==