Max Hirsch was a titan within the sport. He gained the 1934 Travers Stakes with Observant. He skilled Daring Enterprise, winner of the 1936 Kentucky Derby and Preakness. He was effectively on his strategy to a Corridor of Fame profession. He skilled horses for a few of the richest and strongest Individuals, together with Arnold Rothstein, the rich gambler and notorious fixer of the 1919 World Sequence. In 1934, he had not too long ago change into the coach for the King Ranch, which might quickly be one of the vital profitable stables in America.
That yr Hirsch’s daughter, Mary, made some horse racing historical past herself. She was the primary lady within the nation licensed to coach Thoroughbred racehorses. Mary had grown up round horses, naturally, and rode jumpers earlier than deciding to attempt her hand at coaching. Homeowners gladly handed horses over to her regardless of any biases in opposition to her gender as a result of, in accordance with the New York Occasions, “her father thinks sufficient of her judgement to seek the advice of together with her.”
One proprietor who had no such biases was Anne Corning, spouse of Congressman Parker Corning from the politically highly effective Corning household in upstate New York. Parker was a horse racing fan and owned quite a lot of horses that he stored beneath his spouse’s title. Anne developed a ardour for the game herself, taking an lively curiosity in them and their careers on the observe. Mrs. Corning requested Mary Hirsch to coach one in all their horses, a bay colt named Thanksgiving.
They stabled Thanksgiving with Max Hirsch’s horses at Saratoga in the summertime of 1937 in preparation for the beginning of his 2-year-old season. That July, earlier than the start of the meet, a lightning storm wreaked havoc on the barn, hanging a number of of the horses, together with Thanksgiving. Max Hirsch felt the lightning strike his foot as he sat in his kitchen close to the barn consuming lunch. He appeared over on the chef, who had collapsed. Hirsch knew what was occurring and sprung from the desk and raced to the barn. When he arrived he noticed his horses stumbling round; some falling over. Thanksgiving was on the bottom and out chilly.
Thanksgiving would recuperate from the lightning strike and make it to the observe that summer season, and even confirmed a bit of promise as a 2-year-old, profitable two of 5 begins, together with a dash on a muddy observe he gained by 4 lengths. However as a 3-year-old he struggled, not profitable a single race by June. He didn’t compete in any of the Triple Crown races, as an alternative operating in races on the East Coast at New York tracks because the star 3-year-olds chased one another throughout the nation in marquee races. Regardless of not profitable, Thanksgiving was elevating some eyebrows all the identical. Joe Palmer listed Thanksgiving among the many yr’s finest horses. Elizabeth Grinnell agreed, writing in Nation Life and the Sportsman, “Though he is probably not the quickest, I feel Thanksgiving would be the most fascinating of the lot. Inside 5 weeks this smallish bay colt, in 4 successive begins at three completely different tracks, has equaled two observe information and damaged two others with out profitable a single race.”
It was true. Thanksgiving had run third within the Yankee Handicap at Suffolk Downs, however at a pace that equaled the observe document, which was damaged by the winner of the race, Cravat. In July, within the Empire Metropolis Handicap in Yonkers, N.Y., Thanksgiving raced in opposition to Stagehand, one of the vital well-liked horses within the nation, and the winner of the Santa Anita Derby. Stagehand gained that race, however Thanksgiving was solely a half-length behind him, and each horses broke the observe document. Later within the Butler Handicap, this time in opposition to older horses, Thanksgiving would beat all different 3-year-olds within the race however lose by a size to the winner, Esposa. Once more, the highest three finishers all broke the earlier observe document. Then in late July at Saratoga, Mary Hirsch would as soon as once more enter Thanksgiving in a handicap race in opposition to older horses, the American Legion. The winner of that race, Airflame, broke a observe document that had stood for 18 years. Thanksgiving, who completed a head bob behind the older Airflame, would break the document as effectively, however as soon as once more miss the winner’s circle.
Whereas the highest 3-year-olds have been placing up inconsistent finishes all year long, Palmer and Grinnell noticed in Thanksgiving one thing that betrayed the horse’s pitiful win document. Thanksgiving was persistently there among the many winners in every race, regardless of how briskly these winners occurred to run. And Thanksgiving’s races that summer season proved that should you wished to beat him, you’d have to run very, very quick.
Mary Hirsch and Anne Corning entered Thanksgiving within the 1938 Travers Stakes at Saratoga. He’d have a chance to run at his previous foes, this time multi function race, as Stagehand, Cravat, and several other different 3-year-old graded stakes winners have been entered within the area of 9. Bull Lea, winner of the Kenner Stakes at Saratoga, was the favourite at 6-to-5. Stagehand was the second selection at 7-to-2. The bettors despatched Thanksgiving off at 4-to-1, largely on the horse’s recognition as an underdog and an area product of upstate New York, little doubt.
Thanksgiving broke effectively and led the sphere round each turns, however the followers weren’t satisfied he might maintain the lead. Stagehand was referred to as a deep nearer, incessantly rallying from the again of the pack, which is precisely the place he was on the high of the Saratoga stretch. However as he started his rally, he was joined by Jolly Tar, a 60-to-1 longshot who had additionally been trailing the sphere and was now developing the rail. Thanksgiving, for his half, picked up his tempo within the stretch as effectively. He had set such a quick tempo the primary 5 furlongs that the opposite horses started to tire. However his jockey, Eddie Arcaro, knew that Thanksgiving wasn’t completed operating, urging him ahead. Thanksgiving would end six lengths forward of the remainder of the sphere, with Jolly Tar making it up for second forward of the remainder of the star-studded area. As soon as once more Saratoga stored its fame as a graveyard of favorites. Mary Hirsch made historical past as the primary feminine to coach a winner of the race, a feat duplicated 85 years later by Jena Antonucci with Arcangelo in 2023. The Jockey Membership would obtain a flood of purposes for coaching licenses from ladies within the wake of Mary Hirsch’s success. And Thanksgiving would show as soon as and for all that lightning can certainly strike in the identical place twice.
Editor’s observe: This story was initially printed in November 2017 and has been up to date.
