Born in Fredricksburg, Texas, Hirsch had a 70-year training career that included many major stakes victories, conditioning six champions, and a longtime stint as private trainer for King Ranch.

Hirsch first came to racing as a jockey riding at local fairs. At 12 he hopped a freight train headed for big time racing in Baltimore. This phase of his career lasted until weight gain ended his usefulness as a jockey.

Hirsch's first major success as a trainer was the 1915 Dwyer won by Norse King, and his first champion was Sarazen, Horse of the Year 1924-25. In the 1930's Hirsch's record drew the attention of Robert Kleberg Jr.'s King Ranch Stable. He trained for King Ranch until his death in 1969.

Hirsch's best known horse was Assault, the Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year of 1946. He also won two races of the Triple Crown series with Bold Venture (1936 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes)and with Middleground (1950 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes). Other champions trained by Hirsch included 1946 Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Bridal Flower, 1947 Champion 3-Year-Old Filly But Why Not, 1954 Champion 3-Year-Old Male High Gun, and 1968 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Gallant Bloom.

Hirsch passed his love of Thoroughbreds on to his children. Two of his sons, including National Horse Racing Hall of Fame member Buddy Hirsch, became trainers and his daughter Mary McLennan was one of the first women to obtain a trainer's license. Upon his father's death, Buddy Hirsch took over as trainer for King Ranch.

Maximilian Hirsch was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1959.

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