Hirsch Jacobs

Biography

Savvy, skill, and attention to detail enabled Manhattan-born Hirsch Jacobs to rise from being a trainer of a claiming stable to the luxury of raising his own champions to train.

North America’s leading trainer 11 times in 12 years beginning in 1933, Jacobs became famous for his claim of Hall of Fame member Stymie. After claiming Stymie for $1,500 in 1943, Jacobs developed him into a popular New York campaigner. By the time he retired six years later, Stymie won 35 times, was in the money 98 times in 131 starts, and was the sport’s all-time leading money winner.

From that foundation, Jacobs and partner Isidor Bieber developed a breeding operation that produced 47 stakes winners. The partners were America’s leading breeders for four years in the 1960s. The transition from trainer of a day-to-day stable to breeder of the ultimate in fashionable pedigrees recalled the career of Hall of Famer John Madden a half-century before.

With astute acquisitions such as that of Searching for $15,000, Jacobs built an operation that produced Hail to Reason, champion 2-year-old and later America’s top sire; Affectionately, a Hall of Famer, champion, and dam of Horse of the Year Personality; Priceless Gem, winner of the Futurity and dam of French champion Allez France; plus other champions he bred, owned, and trained, Straight Deal and Regal Gleam.

At the time of his death in 1970, Jacobs had saddled the winners of a record 3,596 races. He is also credited with breeidng horses that won a total of 3,513 races and owned the winners of 2,947 races. 

Achievements

North America's leading trainer in wins — 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944
North America's leading trainer in earnings — 1946, 1960, 1965

Other Highlights

Won the Fashion Stakes — 1938, 1944, 1962
Won the Tremont Stakes — 1960, 1962, 1967
Won the Saratoga Cup — 1945, 1946
Won the Metropolitan Handicap — 1947, 1948
Won the Massachusetts Handicap — 1947, 1958
Won the Vagrancy Handicap — 1955, 1965
Won the Diana Handicap — 1956, 1958
Won the Frizette Stakes — 1965, 1966
Won the Futurity Stakes — 1965, 1969