The National Museum of Racing’s Joe Hirsch Media Roll of Honor was established to recognize individuals whose careers have been dedicated to, or substantially involved in, writing about Thoroughbred racing (non-fiction), and who distinguished themselves as journalists.

Often referred to as the dean of Thoroughbred racing writers, Hirsch won both the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Writing and the Lord Derby Award in London from the Horserace Writers and Reporters association of Great Britain. He also received the Eclipse Award of Merit (1993), the Big Sport of Turfdom Award (1983), The Jockey Club Medal (1989), and was designated as the honored guest at the 1994 Thoroughbred Club of America’s testimonial dinner. The annual Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont Park is named in his honor, as are the press boxes at Saratoga Race Course and Churchill Downs. Hirsch was also a former chairman of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Nominating Committee. He died in 2009.

Joe Hirsch Media Roll of Honor

2010 – Steven Crist, Charles Hatton, William Nack, and Red Smith

2011 – Russ Harris and Joe Palmer

2012 – Jay Hovdey and Whitney Tower