# Neil Hirsch

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American businessman and entrepreneur (1947–2021)

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Neil S. Hirsch Hirsch in February 2005 Born (1947-06-07)June 7, 1947 St. Louis, Missouri Died June 24, 2021(2021-06-24) (aged 74) Wellington, Florida Occupation Entrepreneur Spouse Caroline Hirsch Parent(s) Harold Hirsch, Ida Bell 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](/source/Telerate), a pioneering global financial communications network, as well as [Loanet](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Loanet&action=edit&redlink=1), a securities-tracking firm.

Hirsch was a prominent figure in the equestrian world, owning the [Black Watch Polo Team](/source/BlackWatch_Polo_Team) and co-founding the Bridgehampton Polo Club.

## Career

At the age of 21, Hirsch dropped out of the [University of Bridgeport](/source/University_of_Bridgeport) to pursue his entrepreneurial ambitions. In 1969, Hirsch founded [Telerate](/source/Telerate), a global communications network that provided real-time financial information to institutions worldwide.[1] Under Hirsch's leadership as president and chief executive, [Telerate](/source/Telerate) became a crucial platform in the financial services industry.[2] By 1990, the company was sold to [Dow Jones & Company](/source/Dow_Jones_%26_Company) for over $1.5 billion, marking one of the most successful business deals of its time.[1]

Hirsch later founded [Loanet](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Loanet&action=edit&redlink=1), a firm that specialized in securities-tracking, and served as its chairman.[3] Loanet had become a dominant player in the US securities lending market by the time Hirsch sold to SunGard Data Systems in 2001,[4] bolstering Hirsch's reputation as an innovator in financial technology.

In December 2013, Hirsch expanded his business portfolio by purchasing *[Backstage](/source/Backstage_(magazine))* magazine and [Sonicbids](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sonicbids&action=edit&redlink=1), 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](/source/Caroline_Hirsch). In 1981, the couple acquired [Carolines on Broadway](/source/Carolines_on_Broadway), a former New York comedy club. After a 14-year union, they separated and divorced in 1988.[5]

In 1999, Hirsch purchased the Player's Club Restaurant in [Wellington, Florida](/source/Wellington%2C_Florida).[6]

## Polo

In 1995, Hirsch co-founded the [Bridgehampton Polo Club](/source/Bridgehampton_Polo_Club) with his childhood friend [Peter M. Brant](/source/Peter_M._Brant).[7][8] The club quickly attracted top players.[9] Hirsch served as its president for many years, until he sold his share to Peter Brant in 2011.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

Hirsch also founded the [Black Watch Polo Team](/source/BlackWatch_Polo_Team), which became notable for star players such as [Nacho Figueras](/source/Nacho_Figueras), [Facundo Pieres](/source/Facundo_Pieres) and [Mariano Aguirre](/source/Mariano_Aguerre).[10] [Ralph Lauren](/source/Ralph_Lauren) became the team's corporate sponsor in 2007,[11] following Figueras' role as the face of Ralph Lauren's Black Label clothing line and the Polo Black fragrance line.[12]

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.[13][14]

## 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.[15]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-forbes_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-forbes_1-1) Leitzes, Adam & Joshua Solan ["A Pioneer's Perspective"](https://www.forbes.com/2000/12/28/1228netcents.html), *[Forbes Magazine](/source/Forbes)*, December 28, 2000.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Reuters, ["The Media: Dow Jones Makes an Offer for Remainder of Telerate"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-09-22-fi-747-story.html), *[The Los Angeles Times](/source/The_Los_Angeles_Times)*, September 22, 1989.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-nymag_3-0)** Stern, Jared Paul Stern ["Hamptons Heat Wave: The Mile-High Club"](http://nymag.com/nymetro/travel/hamptons/features/3274), *[New York Magazine](/source/New_York_Magazine)*; accessed September 15, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Natarajan, Niki (June 11, 2001). ["SunGard grows with Loanet deal"](https://www.fnlondon.com/articles/sungard-grows-with-loanet-deal-20010611). *Financial News London*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:0_5-0)** Gallo, Hank (March 1, 1992). "Caroline's". *Daily News*. pp. 14–16.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Park, Louis Hillary (March 11, 2001). "Polo fans game for Hirsch's Players Club". *Palm Beach Daily News*. pp. A1, A12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [Bensimon, Kelly Killoren](/source/Kelly_Killoren_Bensimon) (August 17, 2010). ["My Polo – Mercedez Benz Bridgehampton Polo"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160919145509/http://www.kellykillorenbensimon.com/blog/tag/neil-hirsch). *kellykillorenbensimon.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.kellykillorenbensimon.com/blog/tag/neil-hirsch) on 2016-09-19.[*[better source needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Questionable_sources)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-nymag2_8-0)** ["They've Got Game"](http://nymag.com/nymetro/travel/hamptons/features/6305/). *[New York Magazine](/source/New_York_Magazine)*. August 19, 2002.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Sicha, Choire (July 25, 2005). ["The Polo Crashers"](https://observer.com/2005/07/the-polo-crashers/). *[The New York Observer](/source/The_New_York_Observer)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Webbe, Alex (February 25, 2007). ["Whitney showdowns today to decide semifinal lineup"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/298957511/?match=1&terms=nacho%20neil%20hirsch). *Palm Beach Daily News*. pp. A6.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Newman, Andrew Adam (2007-09-03). ["For Ralph Lauren, a New Side of Polo as Sponsor"](https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/03/business/media/03polo.html). *The New York Times*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0362-4331](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved 2026-02-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Tschorn, Adam (July 25, 2010). "Polo's Advocate". *Los Angeles Times*. pp. P2.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Padgett, Tim (April 23, 2009). ["The Dead Polo Ponies and Their Millionaire Owner"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090426052415/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1893280,00.html). *[Time](/source/Time_(magazine))*. Archived from [the original](http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1893280,00.html) on 2009-04-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** "Mystery toxin kills horses". *The Miami Herald*. April 21, 2009. p. 2.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Malek, Mitra. ["Polo team founder donates $1.5 million to new Wellinton Boys & Girls Club"](https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/2012/05/06/polo-team-founder-donates-1/7293139007/). *The Palm Beach Post*. Retrieved 2024-09-18.

## External links

- [Official website](http://neilhirsch.com/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Neil Hirsch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Hirsch) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Hirsch?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.