Joe Hirsch (February 27, 1928 – January 9, 2009) was an American horse racing columnist and the founding president of the National Turf Writers Association.
He earned a degree in journalism from New York University, then served with the United States Army for four years.
The annual Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont Park was named in his honor, as are the press boxes at the Saratoga Race Course and Churchill Downs racecourses.
[citation needed] Until his death, Hirsch served as a member of the selection committee for the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
[1] Hirsch was selected for induction into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2024 as a "Pillar of the Turf.