Kingfisher was bred by Robert A. Alexander[1] at his Woodburn Stud in Woodford County, Kentucky,[citation needed] Kingfisher was out of the imported mare Eltham Lass, a daughter of Kingston.

He was purchased for $490 by Woodburn's former manager, Daniel Swigert who entrusted his race conditioning to trainer Raleigh Colston Sr.[3] In 1870, the three-year-old Kingfisher won the Belmont Stakes at New York's Jerome Park Racetrack, in which he was ridden by Edward D.

[7] Retired to stud duty, he sired 7 stakes winners: Belinda out of Bellona, Lady Rosebery out of Lady Blessington, Duchess also out of Lady Blessington, King Crab out of Carita, King Cadmus also out of Carita, Oriole out of My Maryland, and Prince Royal out of imported Princess.

[9] Lady Rosebery, an 1878 chestnut mare, won the 1880 Champagne Stakes.

King Cadmus, an 1889 bay stallion, won the 1891 Sapphire Stakes.