Max Hirsch was a legendary horse trainer who achieved major victories in the 1930s, including the 1934 Travers Stakes and the 1936 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. In 1934, his daughter Mary Hirsch made history as the first woman licensed to train Thoroughbred racehorses in the U.S. Despite gender biases, she earned respect for her judgment and trained Thanksgiving, a bay colt owned by Anne Corning. Thanksgiving survived a lightning strike in 1937 and showed promise as a 2-year-old, though he struggled to win as a 3-year-old in 1938. Nonetheless, he consistently ran record-breaking times and competed strongly against top horses like Stagehand and Cravat.

Mary Hirsch and Thanksgiving made history at the 1938 Travers Stakes at Saratoga, where Thanksgiving led the race and won by six lengths, becoming the first horse trained by a woman to win the prestigious event. This victory helped pave the way for more women to receive training licenses. Thanksgiving’s remarkable performances, despite few wins, demonstrated his talent and resilience, proving that sometimes lightning can strike twice. The story celebrates both Mary Hirsch’s groundbreaking role in horse racing and Thanksgiving’s legacy as a talented underdog.