HBO’s “Luck” Ceases Production After Third Horse Dies

When you have a series about horse racing, keeping the horses alive and safe are detrimental to the series.  Now, after losing three horses during the production, two horses during the first season and now one during earlier second season filming, HBO series "Luck" has cancelled all further production.  Starring Nick Nolte and Dustin Hoffman, "Luck" was immediately a hit for HBO and a second season was ordered and set to start airing in January 2013.  The show was put on hold earlier this week when a horse reared up, flipped over, struck its head, and was euthanized due to injuries.  Two other horses had to be euthanized due to accidents on set.  In a statement released earlier today, HBO explained their reasoning for cancelling the series,

"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 horse-racing 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."

The series had already finished production on the first season, which will finish its run on HBO.

via MSNBC