Edward hails from Co. Wexford in Ireland and grew up breeding and racing Thoroughbreds for both jump and flat racing. The family farm, Belmont Stud, is a highly commended boutique stud farm for which their stock have seen success in Europe, Asia and America.
Ed arrived in Australia eleven years ago as a backpacker on a working holiday visa. His travels have taken him all over the country. Most memorably, down to South Australia where he worked as lead breaker for Tony McEvoy, and all the way to the tip of the country, mustering cattle outside of Darwin and beyond. There were many stops along the way in which he emersed himself in the Australian racing industry.
He resolutely decided he was going to make a life for himself in Australia, so when the working holiday visa was drawing to a close, he took up a foreman role for Gai Waterhouse. The years he worked with Gai and the team were incredibly formative, helping Ed pave his way as a trainer in his own right.
Ed has moulded his many years of experience into a second to none knowledge of racing and horsemanship.
In January 2022 O’Rourke Racing was launched. O’Rourke Racing delivers services in thoroughbred training, pre-training, breaking and bloodstock management.
Ed lives and breathes racehorses; training is his life’s passion. The company logo of the Celtic tree embodies key values to Ed. It symbolises strength and resilience, and at the root of all, family ties. The company tagline “Always with Purpose” sets a precedent to the company business standard as well as giving a nod to the challenges Ed has faced as a trainer so far, and the role those challenges have played in shaping him today.