Kincsem was bred in the Gestut Tapioszentmarton, owned by Herr Ernst von Blaskovitch, and foaled in Hungary. She was the unbeaten winner of fifty-four races from two to five, in five different countries. Described as looking "a little like Virago" (ch f 1851 Pyrrhus the First), winner of the One Thousand Guineas Stakes, Kincsem stood over 16 hands 1 inch and said to be "as long as a boat".

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 in Hungary, the Preis der Jockey Club and the Emperor's Prize in Austria, 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. She was a Hungarian national treasure, and the toast of Europe.

She had five foals: Budagyongye, Ollyan-Nincs, Talpra Magyar, Kincs-Or and Kincs.

Her unraced daughter Kincs (ch f 1887 Doncaster) was the dam of Napfeny (b f 1896 Dunure), winner of the Magyar Kancadij; she in turn the dam of the superlative Miczi (b f 1910 Mindig), winner of the Magyar Kancadij, Egyesitett Nemzeti es Hazafi dij, Osterreichisches Stutenpreis, Queen Elizabeth Prize and the King's Prize.

Kincsem's daughter Budagyongye (b f 1882 Buccaneer) won the Deutsches Derby and in the stud foaled two exceptional fillies, Viglany (ch f 1900 Bona Vista) and Disco (ch f 1906 Floriform). Viglany has descendants in Hungary, Russia and Romania, including the Bolsoj Wsiesojuznyj Priz winner Gelikon (ch c 1971 Gay Warrior) and the Bolsoj Wsiesojuznyj Priz winner Gshatsk (b c 1984 Suzdal). Some of her family made its way west and Polygamy (b f 1971 Reform) won the Oaks Stakes at Epsom in 1974.

Another daughter Ollyan-Nincs (b f 1883 Buccaneer) won the Magyar St Leger and produced a host of winning descendants in Eastern Europe. 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).

Her 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 dij 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.

Ulbrich notes that despite the ravages of many wars which depleted her descendents, her bloodlines are still flourishing in Europe with Waldcanter (ch c 1956 Caran d'Ache) and his brother Wicht (ch c 1957 Caran d'Ache) both considered the best of their generations.

Kincsem died of colic following the birth of Kincs at age thirteen.