▁( 1 9 7 6 – 2 0 0 5 ) ▁was ▁an ▁American ▁Thor ough bre d ▁race hor se . ▁He ▁was ▁b red ▁and ▁rac ed ▁by ▁the ▁prominent ▁husband - and - w ife ▁team ▁of ▁Ber tr am ▁and ▁D iana ▁Fir estone , ▁of ▁Upper ville , ▁Virginia . ▁General ▁Assembly ▁was ▁out ▁of ▁the ▁mare ▁Ex clus ive ▁Dan cer , ▁daughter ▁of ▁Hall ▁of ▁Fame ▁induct ee ▁and ▁American ▁Hor se ▁of ▁the ▁Year ▁Native ▁Dan cer . ▁His ▁s ire ▁was ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 3 ▁U . S . ▁Tri ple ▁Crown ▁champion ▁Secret ariat , ▁who ▁was ▁r ated ▁# 2 ▁in ▁the ▁Blood - Hor se ▁magazine ▁List ▁of ▁the ▁Top ▁ 1 0 0 ▁U . S . ▁Race h ors es ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 th ▁Century . ▁ ▁General ▁Assembly ▁was ▁trained ▁by ▁future ▁U . S . ▁Racing ▁Hall ▁of ▁Fame ▁induct ee ▁Le Ro y ▁J ol ley . ▁At ▁age ▁two , ▁the ▁col t ▁won ▁the ▁Hope ful ▁St akes ▁and ▁the ▁Sar at oga ▁Special ▁St akes ; ▁he ▁ran ▁second ▁to ▁Spect ac ular ▁B id ▁in ▁both ▁the ▁Champ agne ▁St akes ▁and ▁the ▁La ure l ▁Fut urity . ▁ ▁Racing ▁at ▁age ▁three ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 9 , ▁in ▁the ▁U . S . ▁Tri ple ▁Crown ▁series ▁General ▁Assembly ▁ran ▁second ▁in ▁the ▁Kentucky ▁Derby ▁and ▁fifth ▁in ▁the ▁Pre ak ness ▁St akes