[1] Emerson was bred by the brothers Roberto and Nelson Seabra at their Haras Guanabara in Brazil.

[4] Emerson was out of the mare Empeñosa, who was an excellent racehorse from Argentina, where she won the Gran Premio Polla de Potrancas and Gran Premio Selección before being purchased by the Seabra brothers for 44,000 pesos.

[5] Empeñosa's female family traced back to Ante Diem, one of the most important foundation mares in South American breeding.

[2][5][8] Upon retirement from racing, Emerson was purchased by a French syndicate headed by Baron Guy de Rothschild and exported to France to stand stud at the Haras Nonant-le-Pin.

[1] Emerson was the sire of Rescousse, winner of the 1972 Prix de Diane.