The British horse racing community is in mourning following the announcement of the death of the popular sprinter Live In The Dream. The seven-year-old, who provided one of the sport's great fairytale moments by winning the 2023 Nunthorpe Stakes at York at odds of 28-1, has died.
A Rags-to-Riches Story Cut Short
Owned by the charismatic couple Steve and Jolene De'Lemos and trained in Epsom by Adam West, Live In The Dream embodied a classic racing dream. Purchased for just £24,000, he defied expectations to earn over £500,000 in prize money, securing six victories from his 20 career starts.
His crowning achievement came on the Knavesmire in August 2023. Under rookie jockey Sean Kirrane, he produced a blistering front-running performance to defeat the hot favourite, Highfield Princess, and land the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes. This victory was historic for trainer West, marking his first ever Group race winner and the first Group 1 winner trained in Epsom since 2016.
Injury Battles and a Final Farewell
Following his York triumph, Live In The Dream took on the world, finishing a creditable fourth in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita. His 2024 campaign, however, was hindered by a foot injury sustained just before a planned defence of his Nunthorpe title.
After trainer Adam West relocated to France, the horse was transferred to Ed Walker's yard in January 2025. Sadly, he never raced again. He developed a cyst in a stifle joint which became infected, leading to several weeks of hospital treatment. He had been out of training since February 2025.
A Family's Heartfelt Tribute
The De'Lemos family confirmed the sad news on Wednesday, paying an emotional tribute to their beloved horse, whom they affectionately called 'Fred'. In a social media post, they described him as "a unique character, a true competitor, and a world traveler".
They wrote: "A once-in-a-lifetime horse who was truly part of our family. Saying goodbye is incredibly hard. Rest in peace, our Fred." The statement captures the profound connection between the owners and a horse whose dramatic story and explosive talent captured the hearts of racing fans, providing a memory of York that will never be forgotten.
