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Hovdey, Tower Honored by Hall of Fame

Turf writers Jay Hovdey and the late Whitney Tower have been chosen as the National Museum of Racing's Joe Hirsch Media Roll of Honor recipients for 2012.

THS: Jockey Club Gold Cup

Tom, Jason and James of TwinSpires.com explore the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) and the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (gr. I) at Belmont.

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Grening, Fortus Win Joe Hirsch Writing Award

David Grening of Daily Racing Form and Bob Fortus of The Times-Picayune in New Orleans earned top honors as the New York Racing Association announced the winners of the inaugural Joe Hirsch Memorial Writing Contest.

Hirsch Memorial Held at Belmont Park

There were so many good stories being told, and re-told, in memory of Joe Hirsch June 5 at Belmont Park, it is hard to know which one Joe would have liked most. Well, Hirsch always saw the positive in everything, so he would have liked all the stories, equally.

DRF, NYRA Host Hirsch Tribute Service

The Daily Racing Form, together with the New York Racing Association, invites family, horsemen, media, and friends to remember and celebrate the life of turf writer Joe Hirsch during Belmont Stakes Week. The tribute service will be held from 10:30-11:30 a.m. June 5 at Belmont Park in the North Shore Terrace (4th floor Clubhouse level).

And They're Off: Jan 14 (Video)

Hosted by Lenny Shulman and Steve Haskin, "And They're Off" is a bi-monthly online video series sponsored by Darby Dan Farm. This weeks topics include: an early look at the Derby Trail, Joe Hirsch, and Toussaud.

Grand Couturier Romps in Turf Classic

Marc Keller's Grand Couturier scored his second consecutive grade I win, coming from off the pace to post a resounding victory in the $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (gr. IT) Sept. 27 at Belmont Park.

English Channel Meets Foreign Invaders in Hirsch Turf Classic

English Channel, who ran fifth in last year's John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT), has his final prep for this year's Breeders' Cup Saturday in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (gr. IT) at Belmont Park.

Shakespeare Adds Another Verse to Winning Sonnet

Shakespeare remained undefeated in five career starts when he outgamed English Channel in Saturday's Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (gr. IT) at Belmont Park.

Joe Hirsch Scholarship Established at UK

The University of Kentucky and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced the establishment of the Joe Hirsch Scholarship, which annually will provide full, one-year tuition to one student who is interested in pursuing a career in Thoroughbred racing journalism.

New York Turf Writers Honor Mineshaft

Mineshaft, Eclipse Award winner as Horse of the Year and best older male, has been named winner of the New York Turf Writers Association's Secretariat Award as New York's Horse of the Year for 2003.

Derby Doings

By Evan I. Hammonds -- This year, there is one absolute. For the first time since 1956, the Kentucky Derby will be run without the presence of Joe Hirsch.

NYRA Renames Turf Classic to Honor Retiring Hirsch

The name of the $750,000, 1 1/2 mile Turf Classic, to be run at Belmont Park on Oct. 2, 2004, has been changed to the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational, it was announced Thursday by Barry K. Schwartz, chairman and CEO of the New York Racing Association.

Scholarship Established to Honor Hirsch

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Daily Racing Form announced Monday the creation of the Joe Hirsch Scholarship, named after the legendary DRF columnist who will retire later this month after 55 years of covering Thoroughbred racing.

New Churchill Press Center to be Named for Joe Hirsch

Churchill Downs will honor retiring longtime Daily Racing Form executive columnist Joe Hirsch by naming its new media facility in his honor.

Top Form

By Steve Haskin -- The void of not having Joe Hirsch's "At the Post" column grace the pages of the Daily Racing Form any longer is so vast it is impossible to even imagine it.

Joe Hirsch, Dean of Turf Writers, to Retire

Joe Hirsch, 74, Daily Racing Form award-winning executive columnist who is recognized as the most accomplished turf writer in the history of Thoroughbred racing, will end his legendary 55-year career when he pens his final DRF column on Nov. 29.

Saratoga Notebook: Ward Eyes Haskell; Prado on His Bobblehead; Frankel, Ward Grade 'Seabiscuit'

Trainer John Ward said Thursday that he is leaning toward running Sky Mesa in the Haskell Invitational (gr. I) at Monmouth Park on Aug. 3 instead of the Jim Dandy (gr. II) at Saratoga. "I'd say I'm 60-40," Ward said.

24-Carat Crown

By Ray Paulick -- Three jewels in the Triple Crown? Not nearly enough, it says here. The series of classic races that ushers in springtime as much as the crack of the bat on opening day has far too much history, far too many heroes, to say there are only three jewels.

Case for Carl

By Joe Hickey -- Out of the loop for too many years now, his hair is as white as a Lukas bridle and his titanium knees are more attuned to WD-40 than Absorbine. But at 85, he's still trim, alert, and enjoying life with Millie, his bride of 44 years. That grin--as wide and warm as a Nebraska prairie under an August morn--is still his trademark.