Daniel O'Rourke (horse)

Daniel O'Rourke
Daniel O'Rourke, with jockey Frank Butler and owner John Bowes. Painting by Harry Hall
Sire	Birdcatcher
Grandsire	Sir Hercules
Dam	Forget Me Not
Damsire	Hetman Platoff
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1849
Country	United Kingdom
Colour	Brown
Owner	John Bowes
Trainer	John Scott
Record	10:2-2-3
Major wins
Epsom Derby (1852) St. James's Palace Stakes (1852)

Daniel O'Rourke (1849 – after 1869) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from September 1851 to July 1853 he ran eleven times and won two races. In the summer of 1852, he proved himself one of the best British colts of his generation, winning the Derby at Epsom and the St. James's Palace Stakes. Daniel O'Rourke came into the Derby as a maiden and won as an unconsidered outsider on heavy ground. He was one of the smallest Thoroughbreds to win a notable race, being technically a pony under some definitions of the term.

Daniel O'Rourke was a compact, powerfully-built chestnut colt with a narrow white stripe and one white foot. He was bred by his owner John Bowes at Streatlam Castle, County Durham. At the peak of his success in 1852, Daniel O'Rourke was measured at 14.2 hands high, although as a stallion he grew to be over 15 hands. He was sired by Birdcatcher, a successful Irish racehorse who became an important and influential stallion. His progeny included the Classic winners Knight of St George, Warlock, The Baron (a leading sire) and Manganese. He was Champion sire in 1852 and 1856. Daniel O'Rourke was the first foal of the mare Forget Me Not, who went on to produce five other winners.

Bowes sent the colt into training with John Scott who trained forty classic winners from his base at Malton, North Yorkshire.