{{Short description|American businessman and entrepreneur (1947–2021)}} {{More citations needed|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Neil S. Hirsch | image = Neil Hirsch.jpg | caption = Hirsch in February 2005 | birth_date = {{Birth date|1947|06|07}} | birth_place = St. Louis, Missouri | death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|06|24|1947|06|07}} | death_place = Wellington, Florida | occupation = Entrepreneur | parents = Harold Hirsch, Ida Bell Hirsch | spouse = {{plainlist| [[Caroline Hirsch]] }} | relatives = [[Emmett Shear]] }}
'''Neil S. Hirsch''' (June 7, 1947 – June 24, 2021) was an American businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was the founder of [[Telerate]], a pioneering global financial communications network, as well as [[Loanet]], a securities-tracking firm.
Hirsch was a prominent figure in the equestrian world, owning the [[BlackWatch Polo Team|Black Watch Polo Team]] and co-founding the Bridgehampton Polo Club.
==Career== At the age of 21, Hirsch dropped out of the [[University of Bridgeport]] to pursue his entrepreneurial ambitions. In 1969, Hirsch founded [[Telerate]], a global communications network that provided real-time financial information to institutions worldwide.<ref name="forbes">Leitzes, Adam & Joshua Solan [https://www.forbes.com/2000/12/28/1228netcents.html "A Pioneer's Perspective"], ''[[Forbes|Forbes Magazine]]'', December 28, 2000.</ref> Under Hirsch's leadership as president and chief executive, [[Telerate]] became a crucial platform in the financial services industry.<ref>Reuters, [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-09-22-fi-747-story.html "The Media: Dow Jones Makes an Offer for Remainder of Telerate"], ''[[The Los Angeles Times]]'', September 22, 1989.</ref> By 1990, the company was sold to [[Dow Jones & Company]] for over $1.5 billion, marking one of the most successful business deals of its time.<ref name="forbes" />
Hirsch later founded [[Loanet]], a firm that specialized in securities-tracking, and served as its chairman.<ref name="nymag">Stern, Jared Paul Stern [http://nymag.com/nymetro/travel/hamptons/features/3274 "Hamptons Heat Wave: The Mile-High Club"], ''[[New York Magazine]]''; accessed September 15, 2016.</ref> Loanet had become a dominant player in the US securities lending market by the time Hirsch sold to SunGard Data Systems in 2001,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Natarajan |first=Niki |date= June 11, 2001 |title=SunGard grows with Loanet deal |url=https://www.fnlondon.com/articles/sungard-grows-with-loanet-deal-20010611 |journal=Financial News London}}</ref> bolstering Hirsch's reputation as an innovator in financial technology.
In December 2013, Hirsch expanded his business portfolio by purchasing ''[[Backstage (magazine)|Backstage]]'' magazine and [[Sonicbids]], companies that served the entertainment and music industries. Hirsch's RZ Capital sold its share of these ventures in 2018.
==Personal life== In 1973, he married [[Caroline Hirsch]]. In 1981, the couple acquired [[Carolines on Broadway]], a former New York comedy club. After a 14-year union, they separated and divorced in 1988.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Gallo |first=Hank |date=March 1, 1992 |title=Caroline's |work=Daily News |pages=14–16}}</ref>
In 1999, Hirsch purchased the Player's Club Restaurant in [[Wellington, Florida]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Park |first=Louis Hillary |date=March 11, 2001 |title=Polo fans game for Hirsch's Players Club |work=Palm Beach Daily News |pages=A1, A12}}</ref>
==Polo== In 1995, Hirsch co-founded the [[Bridgehampton Polo Club]] with his childhood friend [[Peter M. Brant]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bensimon |first=Kelly Killoren |author-link=Kelly Killoren Bensimon |date=August 17, 2010 |title=My Polo – Mercedez Benz Bridgehampton Polo |url=http://www.kellykillorenbensimon.com/blog/tag/neil-hirsch |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919145509/http://www.kellykillorenbensimon.com/blog/tag/neil-hirsch |archive-date=2016-09-19 |website=kellykillorenbensimon.com}}{{better source needed|date=September 2024|This is a blog.}}</ref><ref name="nymag2">{{Cite magazine |date=August 19, 2002 |title=They've Got Game |url=http://nymag.com/nymetro/travel/hamptons/features/6305/ |magazine=[[New York Magazine]]}}</ref> The club quickly attracted top players.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sicha |first=Choire |date=July 25, 2005 |title=The Polo Crashers |url=https://observer.com/2005/07/the-polo-crashers/ |work=[[The New York Observer]]}}</ref> Hirsch served as its president for many years, until he sold his share to Peter Brant in 2011.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}
Hirsch also founded the [[BlackWatch Polo Team|Black Watch Polo Team]], which became notable for star players such as [[Nacho Figueras]], [[Facundo Pieres]] and [[Mariano Aguerre|Mariano Aguirre]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Webbe |first=Alex |date=February 25, 2007 |title=Whitney showdowns today to decide semifinal lineup |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/298957511/?match=1&terms=nacho%20neil%20hirsch |work=Palm Beach Daily News |pages=A6}}</ref> [[Ralph Lauren]] became the team's corporate sponsor in 2007,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Newman |first=Andrew Adam |date=2007-09-03 |title=For Ralph Lauren, a New Side of Polo as Sponsor |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/03/business/media/03polo.html |access-date=2026-02-20 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> following Figueras' role as the face of Ralph Lauren's Black Label clothing line and the Polo Black fragrance line.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tschorn |first=Adam |date=July 25, 2010 |title=Polo's Advocate |work=Los Angeles Times |pages=P2}}</ref>
Hirsch's impact on polo, particularly in Bridgehampton and Wellington, helped elevate the sport's visibility in the U.S. Hirsch was also an advocate for anti-doping legislation in equestrian sports.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Padgett |first=Tim |date=April 23, 2009 |title=The Dead Polo Ponies and Their Millionaire Owner |url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1893280,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426052415/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1893280,00.html |archive-date=2009-04-26 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=April 21, 2009 |title=Mystery toxin kills horses |work=The Miami Herald |pages=2}}</ref>
== Philanthropy == Hirsch was a notable philanthropist recognized for his significant contributions to the Wellington community. In 2012, Hirsch donated $1.5 million to help build the village's Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Malek |first=Mitra |title=Polo team founder donates $1.5 million to new Wellinton Boys & Girls Club |url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/2012/05/06/polo-team-founder-donates-1/7293139007/ |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=The Palm Beach Post |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://neilhirsch.com/ Official website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hirsch, Neil}} [[Category:1947 births]] [[Category:2021 deaths]] [[Category:American businesspeople]] [[Category:American racehorse owners and breeders]] [[Category:Businesspeople from St. Louis]]