The legendary Kincsem ( whose name means "my treasure") was bred in the Gestüt Tápiószentmárton, owned by Herr Ernst von Blaskovitch, and foaled in Austria-Hungary. She was the unbeaten winner of fifty-four races from the ages of two to five, in five different countries.

Her sire, Cambuscan (ch c 1861 Newminster), was bred by HM Queen Victoria and campaigned, first by George Harry Grey, 7th Earl of Stamford, and then by Captain John White, held in considerable renown in the hunting field and an advisor to Lord Stamford. Cambuscan won the July Stakes and several other races. He finished second for the Goodwood Cup, won by Ely (b c 1861 Kingston) and third for the St Leger, won by Gladiateur (b c 1862 Monarque). He was sold to the Kisbér Stud for a reputed 5500 guineas and sent to Austria-Hungary. Before departure he got the Two Thousand Guineas winner Camballo (b c 1872) and in his new country, besides Kincsem, he got the Deutsches Derby winner Gamiani (ch f 1877), and two Preis de Diana winners, Altona (ch f 1875) and Illona (ch f 1876). He was leading sire in Germany in 1877 due to the victories there of Kincsem.

Her grandam, The Mermaid (b f 1853 Cotswold), won the King John Stakes at Egham as a two year old, beating Lord Anglesey's Flying Duchess (b f 1853 The Flying Dutchman), the dam of Galopin (b c 1872 Vedette). Her dam, Water Nymph (ch f 1860), bred in the Esterházy Stud and later purchased by Herr Blaskovitch, won both the Hungarian equivalent of the Oaks and Two Thousand Guineas Stakes. She also foaled an Oaks winner in Harmat (b f 1872 Ostreger), who in turn produced two Oaks winners: Gyongvirag (ch f 1879 Cambuscan) and Hosno (b f 1888 Pasztor), the latter also won the Austrian equivalent of the Oaks Stakes.

Kincsem was offered for sale as a yearling, as was the custom of Herr Blaskovitch, however she went unsold because she was thought unattractive. She was described as looking "a little like Virago" (ch f 1851 Pyrrhus the First), winner of the One Thousand Guineas Stakes. She was said to be "as long as a boat" a trait perhaps passed on by Cambuscan, himself described as "long and low". A liver chesnut without any white she matured to stand over 16 hands 1 inch. She was retained by Herr Blaskovitch who put her into training with Robert Hesp who had apprenticed at Malton and was later huntsman to Prince Batthyany's hounds, then a spy during the revolution, and eventually a racehorse trainer.

She apparently had numerous eccentricities, noted by Mortimer & Willett in their book Great Racehorses of the World. It is said that one cold night her lad, Frankie (who went by the name of Frankie Kincsem), had no rug so she removed her own to cover him and from then on would wear none. Herr Blaskovitch would give her flowers at the end of a race, which she liked in her browband, and one time when he was delayed she refused to be unsaddled until the flowers arrived. She wanted only oats and water from home and once refused water for three days until some with a similar taste was found. She travelled thousands of miles by train and would happily settle down for a long journey as long as both Frankie and her cat were in attendance.

A grand racehorse she "galloped with her head close to the ground," and was said to often prefer to munch grass until her opponents were well away. Her victories included the Magyar One and Two Thousand Guineas Stakes, Oaks Stakes and St Leger Stakes, the Preis der Jockey Club and the Emperor's Prize in Austria-Hungary, the Kladruber Criterium in Czechoslovakia, the Grosser Preis von Baden-Baden (thrice) and the Grosser Preis von Hannover in Germany, the Grand Prix de Deauville in France, and the Goodwood Cup in England.

Kincsem had five foals:
Budagyongye	b f 1882	Buccaneer
Ollyan-Nincs	b f 1883	Buccaneer
Talpra-Magyar	b c 1885	Buccaneer
Kincs-Or	ch c 1886	Doncaster
Kincs	ch f 1887	Doncaster

Budagyongye (b f 1882 Buccaneer) won the Deutsches Derby and in the stud foaled two exceptional fillies, Viglany (ch f 1900 Bona Vista) and Dicso (ch f 1906 Floriform). Among her illustrious offspring are Seventh Bride (b f 1966 Royal Record), a winner of the Princess Royal Stakes at Ascot, and One Over Parr (b f 1972 Reform), winner of both the Lancashire Oaks and Cheshire Oaks. The latter produced Tom Seymour (b c 1980 Grundy) who won numerous races in Italy.

Her classics winning descendants include: Ashkhabad (ch c 1964 Steinadler) RUS D, Banat (b c 1925 Nubier) AUT 2G, Beregvolgy (ch c 1900 Bona Vista) AUT D, Calandria (br f 1926 Kircubbin) FR SL, Camelot (b c 2009 Montjeu) GB 2G, Capelan (bbr c 1953 Umiddad) SPA D, Direktor (ch c 1956 Dukat) HUN SL, Dicso (ch f 1906 Floriform) HUN 2G AUT 2G, Djurdjevka (ch f 1937 Money Maker) YUG D, Garlem (ch c 1963 Argonaut) RUS D, Gshatsk (b c 1984 Suzdal) RUS D, Keringo (b c 1901 Pardon) AUT 2G, Melvyn (b f 1936 Balbinus) HUN O, Morpeth (b c 1903 Morgan) AUT D HUN SL, Oberon (b c 1928 Orpheus) ITY D, Polygamy (b f 1971 Reform) GB O, Sajgo (b f 1920 Horkay) HUN O, Styrian (ch c 1904 Styx) AUT D, Szajko (br c 1936 Santorb) HUN SL, Vaduva (b f 1955 Petrus) ROM O, Vatinius (ch c 1918 Horkay) HUN D, Viglany (ch f 1900 Bona Vista) HUN 2G AUT O.

Ollyan-Nincs (b f 1883 Buccaneer) won the Magyar St Leger and produced a host of winning descendants in Eastern Europe. Siker (b f 1928 Light Hand) thrice won the prestigious Austria-Preis, and Surmacz (b c 1954 Salut) was most successful in Poland. Recent descendants of this mare include the Preis von Europa winner Well Made (br c 1997 Mondrian) and the Prix de Psyche winner Welluna (bbr f 1996 Lagunas).

Classics winners descending from her include: Eten (b c 1976 Anilin) RUS D, Falada (ch f 1920 Con Amore) GER O, Grom (b c 1903 Carlton) POL D, Impet (ch c 1932 Rheinwein) POL D, Jasna Pani (ch f 1906 Sac-a-Papier) RUS O, Kamaras (ch c 1938 Cagliostro) HUN 2G HUN D, Mosci Ksiaze (ch c 1910 Sac-a-Papier) HUN SL, Pajzan (b c 1925 Pazman) HUN 2G, Parola (ch f 1924 Pazman) HUN O AUT O, Reka (b f 1941 Cagliostro) HUN O HUN SL, Romul (ch c 1939 Spiridion) YUG D YUG SL, Rona (b f 1940 Mannamead) HUN O HUN SL, Rozica (b f 1957 Fantastic) ROM O, Satrap (br c 1926 Predicateur) ROM D, Sfarleaza (b f 1923 Chilperic) ROM O, Szentenczia (ch c 1894 Morgan) AUT 2G, Tip Top (ch c 1926 Karmento) YUG D, Tsimlyansk (c 2002 Swiss Desert) RUS D, Wahnfried (b c 1933 Flamboyant) GER SL, Walesiana (bbr f 1992 Star Appeal) GER 1G, Watson (b g 2004 Be My Chief) SWE SL, Wauthi (b c 1977 Authi) GER 2G GER SL, Well Proved (b f 1980 Prince Ippi) GER 1G, Wicht (ch c 1957 Caran d'Ache) GER SL, Widschi (b f 1968 Dschingis Khan) GER 2G, Wolke (ch f 1969 Grande) GDR D GDR O.

Kincsem's unraced daughter Kincs (ch f 1887 Doncaster) was the dam of Napfény (b f 1896 Dunure), winner of the Magyar Kancadíj (HUN O); she in turn the dam of the superlative Miczi (b f 1910 Mindig), winner of the Magyar Kancadíj (HUN O), Egyesített Nemzeti es Hazafi díj (HUN 2G), Österreichischer Stutenpreis (AUT O), Queen Elizabeth Prize and the King's Prize. Kincs was also the dam of Csókos-Asszony (ch f 1899 Gunnersbury), winner of the Trial Stakes (AUT 2G). A more recent descendant, Bank (br c 1945 Blanc), was a winner in Hungary and sired the HUN O winners Kolibri (gr f 1956) and Theba (gr f 1958). Bank's full sister, Piros Bugyelláris (b f 1948 Blanc) also won the Magyar Kancadíj (HUN O).

Kincsem's son Talpra Magyar (b c 1885 Buccaneer) never ran but in the stud he sired Tokio (b c 1892) who won the Grosser Preis von Baden, Grosser Preis von Nordrhein-Westfalen, Jubilaums Preis (thrice), Oesterreichisches Derby, Trial Stakes, Alagi díj and the Magyar St Leger.

Kincs-Or (ch c 1886 Doncaster) died before starting in the German Derby which he was generally thought to be able to win.

Despite the ravages of two world wars which depleted her descendents, her bloodlines were still flourishing in Europe in mid-twentieth century with Waldcanter (ch c 1956 Caran d'Ache), winner of the Grosser Preis von Berlin, and his brother Wicht (ch c 1957 Caran d'Ache), also a winner of the Grosser Preis von Berlin as well as the Deutsches St. Leger, both considered the best of their generations.

In the twenty-first century, Tarfah (b f 2001 Kingmambo), bred by her owner Sheikh Abdulla bin Isa Al-Khalifa, won the Dahlia Stakes and produced the 2012 Two Thousand Guineas winner Camelot (b c 2009 Montjeu). Camelot, who started favourite, also made history by carrying Joseph O'Brien, son of his trainer Aidan O'Brien, to a decisive victory in the 2012 Derby.

Kincsem was a Hungarian national treasure, and the toast of Europe. Kincsem Park racecourse at Budapest is named after her and her statue is located at the park entrance. She died of colic following the birth of Kincs on her birthday at the age of thirteen.