HBO Cancels LUCK After Horse Deaths

HBO's Luck has been cancelled after a third unfortunate horse death. The network and executive producers David Milch and Michael Mann made the decision after the most recent accident. The show was in the middle of filming the second season, which stars Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte. Remaining episodes of season one are set to air as scheduled. 

Luck gave "a behind-the-track look at the world of horse racing and gambling’s denizens – owners, trainers, jockeys and gamblers." The cast also included Dennis Farina, John Ortiz, Richard Kind, Kevin Dunn, Ian Hart, Ritchie Coster, Jason Gedrick, Kerry Condon, Gary Stevens, Tom Payne, and Jill Hennessy. Milch and Mann executive produced along with Carolyn Strauss. 

It is with heartbreak that executive producers David Milch and Michael Mann together with HBO have decided to cease all future production on the series Luck.

Safety is always of paramount concern.  We maintained the highest safety standards throughout production, higher in fact than any protocols existing in horseracing anywhere with many fewer incidents than occur in racing or than befall horses normally in barns at night or pastures.  While we maintained the highest safety standards possible, accidents unfortunately happen and it is impossible to guarantee they won’t in the future.  Accordingly, we have reached this difficult decision.

We are immensely proud of this series, the writing, the acting, the filmmaking, the celebration of the culture of horses, and everyone involved in its creation.

Quote from Michael Mann and David Milch:  “The two of us loved this series, loved the cast, crew and writers.  This has been a tremendous collaboration and one that we plan to continue in the future.”

”Knowing that old, unfit, and drugged horses were forced to race for this series, PETA is glad that HBO has finally decided to cancel the show,” PETA said. The organization noted that it had urged the show’s producers “to use stock racing footage instead of endangering horses for entertainment purposes” and said that it “has called on law enforcement to investigate the deaths of the horses used on the set and to bring charges as appropriate.”

Source: Deadline (http://www.deadline.com/2012/03/hbos-luck-to-shut-down-for-good-following-latest-horse-death/)