Buckpasser was a bay colt that was bred and owned by Ogden Phipps and foaled at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky.
He was by the Horse of the Year-winner Tom Fool, and his dam was the stakes-winning mare Busanda, by the Triple Crown-winner War Admiral.
Buckpasser was inbred in the fourth generation (4m x 4f) to the French racehorse and influential sire Teddy.
Renowned horse painter Richard Stone Reeves said, "Buckpasser was the most perfectly proportioned Thoroughbred I have ever seen."
Bill Winfrey began his training, and when he retired, Eddie Neloy took over and prepared Buckpasser for his three-year-old season.
He broke down and was retired, while Buckpasser won the race, setting a new world record for a mile with a time of 1:32 3/5.
In 1989, Buckpasser's grandson, Hall of Fame Champion Easy Goer, ran a mile in 1:32 2/5.
As The Blood-Horse said in its July 24, 1967, issue: "Never had so many people had so many immunization shots in order to stay home and watch the Suburban Handicap on Independence Day."
Included in his get were: Though he had three tail-male Kentucky Derby (G1) winners (Spend a Buck-1985, Lil E. Tee-1992 and Silver Charm-1997), his record as a damsire stands out.