“No Sir”: How Mary Hirsch Defied the Odds and Trained Her Way Into History

The First Woman Trainer in the Kentucky Derby Didn’t Just Enter a Horse—She Entered a Fight

Mary Hirsch, father Max Hirsch (Photo courtesy of Keeneland Library Cook Collection)

In 1937, the grand spectacle of the Kentucky Derby was as exclusive as an old boys' club could get—silk suits, whiskey neat, and the firm belief that horse racing was no place for a woman. Mary Hirsch had other plans. And she carried them into Churchill Downs with a horse named No Sir.

The irony of that name was lost on no one.

Because when the world told Mary Hirsch “No, ma’am, this sport isn’t for you,” she answered loud and clear:

“No, sir.”

Born to Train, Not to Wait

Horse racing was in Mary’s blood. Her father, Max Hirsch, was a Hall of Fame trainer whose legacy would later include conditioning Triple Crown winner Assault. Mary was raised at the track—Belmont Park was her backyard, her playpen was a stable, and she knew horses before she knew how to read.

But being born into racing and being allowed to race were two different things. In the early 1930s, The Jockey Club—the all-powerful gatekeepers of Thoroughbred racing—flat-out refused to grant women trainer licenses. Did Mary accept that? No sir.

In 1934, she fought and won the right to train in Illinois and Michigan. By 1935, the walls cracked further when she became the first woman granted a nationwide license. That moment alone could have been enough to secure her place in history. But history wasn’t what she was after—she was after the Winner’s Circle.

1937: The Kentucky Derby Sees Its First Female Trainer—and Its First “No Sir”

If Mary Hirsch had been training a horse named "Yes Ma'am," the story might have been too polite. Instead, the universe delivered No Sir, a chestnut gelding with something to prove—just like his trainer.

This was no novelty act. Mary had earned her place in the Derby through skill, strategy, and sheer grit. No Sir wasn’t the favorite, but he wasn’t an afterthought either. And Mary wasn’t just “the first woman trainer” at the Derby—she was a contender.

When she walked into Churchill Downs, every hat turned, every whisper rose. Some saw it as a gimmick. Others thought it was laughable.

A woman? Training a Derby horse?

No sir, that won’t last.

The Race and the Reckoning

The 1937 Kentucky Derby field was stacked, led by the legendary War Admiral, who would go on to win the Triple Crown and a famous match race against Seabiscuit. No Sir gave it all he had, but he finished 13th in the field.

To some, it was validation—proof that women didn’t belong. To Mary, it was just the beginning.

Because no other woman had ever reached that starting gate. No other woman had trained a horse in the Derby before her. And while War Admiral took the trophy, Mary Hirsch had already taken the future.

“No Sir” Was Just the Beginning

Two years later, in 1938, Mary made history again—this time by winning the Travers Stakes, the most prestigious race at Saratoga. She trained a horse named Thanksgiving, a colt so resilient that he once survived a lightning strike.

Thanksgiving at the 1938 Travers with Jockey Arcaro Up (courtesy of the Keeneland Library)

By the time the finish line was crossed, Mary Hirsch became the first - and only until Jena Antonucci in 2023 became the second female trainer to win the Travers Stakes when her horse, Arcangelo, secured victory. (stayed tuned for that blog!) - woman to train a Travers Stakes winner.

They said a woman couldn’t train at the highest level. No sir. They said a woman couldn’t win major races. No sir. They said she was a novelty act. No sir.

Mary Hirsch wasn’t just training horses—she was training the world to accept that women belong in the sport.

Legacy: The Finish Line She Crossed First

Mary Hirsch’s name should be etched into the Hall of Fame. But, to this day, she is still not enshrined there.

Her contributions were often overshadowed by the male trainers of her time—including her own father. Many assumed her success was simply because she had Max Hirsch’s blood in her veins. But, as we in the equestrian line of work all know, bloodlines don’t just win races. It takes skill, dedication, and determination to win.

Her legacy is undeniable:

First woman licensed as a Thoroughbred trainer in the U.S.
First woman to train a Kentucky Derby horse (1937)
Only woman to train a Travers Stakes winner (1938)
Pioneer for every female trainer who followed

Yet, in the 21st century, women trainers still fight for respect. The industry still whispers its doubts. The record books still have too few female names.

And to that, we say:

No sir.

Mary Hirsch Didn’t Just Open the Gate—She Kicked It Down

The next time you watch the Kentucky Derby and see a female trainer in the paddock, remember Mary Hirsch.

Remember the courage it took for a woman to walk into Churchill Downs in 1937. Remember the fighting spirit it took to demand a license, to enter a sport that wasn’t ready for her.

And most importantly—remember that when the world said “No, ma’am” to Mary Hirsch…

She smiled, saddled up, and said:

“No sir.”

Final Thought: Women in Horse Racing Still Fight for Equality

In a world where female trainers still struggle for equal opportunities, let’s not let Mary Hirsch’s story fade into history—let’s use it to fuel the future. The Kentucky Derby didn’t see another woman trainer until Diane Carpenter in 1980—43 years later. Today, women like Linda Rice, Kathleen O’Connell, and Cherie DeVaux continue pushing forward, but the sport still isn’t balanced.