Luck: New HBO series about horse racing = CANCELLED 3/15

[jenm]

I caught it accidentally tonight, and it reminded me why I want to cancel HBO.

I found the pilot episode to be disturbing, but I’m curious if anyone involved in racing saw it and can comment on it. By choice, I don’t care to go to the back side of a track, but it appeared the series is filmed at a real track. At least to my inexperienced eye it did.

I also wonder how they got the racing scenes. Did they hire a whole crew of jockeys and then rent a bunch of TBs?

Does anyone have any insight into this new show? Of course, they had the requisite breakdown where they they had to euthanize the horse, but the scene went from the horse being able to stand and then cut to it lying down. I thought in situations like that, the horse is usually vanned off. Yes, my naivete is showing, which is why I would love to hear from those of you who know racing as fact vs. fiction.

Edit:

I’m surprised they didn’t just go on hiatus while they figured out a different way to keep the show interesting without having use so many horses

[jumpymeister]

Which HBO channel is it on? Day/time?

[Pronzini]

[quote=jenm;6016618]

I found the pilot episode to be disturbing, but I’m curious if anyone involved in racing saw it and can comment on it. By choice, I don’t care to go to the back side of a track, but it appeared the series is filmed at a real track. At least to my inexperienced eye it did.[/QUOTE]

It was filmed at Santa Anita. As for your comment about the backstretch, what - we have cooties or something?

La de dah.

As for the rest, it’s HBO. It’s going to have sleaze, violence and sex. You think it’s like a Ken Burns documentary?

[lifesabreeze]

I laughed, I cried and I nodded in agreement as the players interacted with each other. I saw the backside/frontside of any one of the 30+ tracks I have raced at.

I loved it!

[Introspect]

[QUOTE=jenm;6016618]
I caught it accidentally tonight, and it reminded me why I want to cancel HBO.

I found the pilot episode to be disturbing, but I’m curious if anyone involved in racing saw it and can comment on it. By choice, I don’t care to go to the back side of a track, but it appeared the series is filmed at a real track. At least to my inexperienced eye it did.

I also wonder how they got the racing scenes. Did they hire a whole crew of jockeys and then rent a bunch of TBs?

Does anyone have any insight into this new show? Of course, they had the requisite breakdown where they they had to euthanize the horse, but the scene went from the horse being able to stand and then cut to it lying down. I thought in situations like that, the horse is usually vanned off. Yes, my naivete is showing, which is why I would love to hear from those of you who know racing as fact vs. fiction.[/QUOTE]

Some hokey parts, but more realistic than you think. Trainer hiding his horse to cash a bet, drunk pinhead jock, an Irish exercise girl, the personable bugboy, a stuttering jock agent, gambling degenerates, crooked track security, a crusty old trainer, a breakdown that the gamblers don’t care about. Summary- it’s a sterotypical racetrack front and backside. If you can’t make peace with this stuff, you can’t digest everyday racing.

[CVPeg]

Missed it, but will watch for it. Searched my DVR, and HBO’s site, and don’t see it coming on again until the official premiere on Jan 29. If anyone finds out about another sneak preview, please advise.

Agree going to the back stretch is often a lot more fun…

Watching the races from the backstretch at Saratoga (but you’ll need an owners’ pass, or owner friend…) is just the ticket for the crowded days. Plus you get to see a lot of moments others miss - could have almost touched Calvin as he hugged Street Sense after his Travers - just one example. Other days, we tailgated it - made ourselves lobster rolls, wine, cheese, you get the picture. Only problem is the race monitors are still ancient - hard to see the finish.

[Bacardi1]

Sunday night’s showing was just a preview of the pilot.

The actual series doesn’t start until mid-January. The 17th I think.

[jenm]

@Pronzini;6016781

It was filmed at Santa Anita. As for your comment about the backstretch, what - we have cooties or something?

Sorry, I didn’t mean to insult you. I’ve just been involved with helping re-home former race horses and realize not all trainers or owners care about what happens to the horses that don’t work out. The odds are great that many of the horses will end up being slaughtered, and that is why I don’t want to go behind the scenes. I know trainers and owners so it’s not like I would have a difficult time getting to the backstretch, at least here in NorCal.

@Introspect;6018481

Some hokey parts, but more realistic than you think. Trainer hiding his horse to cash a bet, drunk pinhead jock, an Irish exercise girl, the personable bugboy, a stuttering jock agent, gambling degenerates, crooked track security, a crusty old trainer, a breakdown that the gamblers don’t care about. Summary- it’s a sterotypical racetrack front and backside. If you can’t make peace with this stuff, you can’t digest everyday racing.

Thanks for a good synopsis, it makes sense.

[QUOTE=CVPeg;6018585]Missed it, but will watch for it. Searched my DVR, and HBO’s site, and don’t see it coming on again until the official premiere on Jan 29. If anyone finds out about another sneak preview, please advise.

Agree going to the back stretch is often a lot more fun…

Watching the races from the backstretch at Saratoga (but you’ll need an owners’ pass, or owner friend…) is just the ticket for the crowded days. Plus you get to see a lot of moments others miss - could have almost touched Calvin as he hugged Street Sense after his Travers - just one example. Other days, we tailgated it - made ourselves lobster rolls, wine, cheese, you get the picture. Only problem is the race monitors are still ancient - hard to see the finish.[/QUOTE]

I do like the idea of the tailgate thing, that sounds inviting.

It will be interesting to see the progression of this series. I didn’t realize I only caught a sneak preview and will have to wait for more.

[Flashy_Gray_VA]

DRF run-down on the “Luck” pilot plus a blog post that has a spoiler alert:

http://www.drf.com/news/review-hbos-luck-gets-down-and-dirty-track

Gotta say I’ve enjoyed every opportunity to visit the backside at tracks in KY, NY, MD, FL and CA, always a great experience.

[WhiteCamry]

Y’know, Gary Stevens is gonna get typecast if he keeps playing jockeys.

[Pronzini]

[quote=jenm;6019733]

Sorry, I didn’t mean to insult you. I’ve just been involved with helping re-home former race horses and realize not all trainers or owners care about what happens to the horses that don’t work out.

Stereotypes go both ways though. More than one racetracker rolls their eyes at the “do gooders” who want to “rescue” a horse from their care and an experience like that makes it hard for others with good intentions to rehome. A little honey and all that.

Besides did you miss the fact that you are on a racing forum right now?

As for Luck, Milch is Milch. Over the top is where he lives.

[bizbachfan]

Purely from an entertainment perspective I found this show to be quite boring. I really tried to like it but there was not one character that made me want to know more about them, nothing to “hook” the viewer into wanting to tune in again. JMO of course.

[judybigredpony]

Sorry, I didn’t mean to insult you. I’ve just been involved with helping re-home former race horses and realize not all trainers or owners care about what happens to the horses that don’t work out.

I’ll be sure to mention that to all the trainers and Owners and connections of the lovely OTTB I buy and re start as sports horses…notice the abcense of the word 'RESCUE"

I personally can’t wait since it will be after the season finale of “Boardwalk Empire”…gotta keep up entertainment…

[Justa_Bob]

Radio interview with “LUCK” creator David Milch – and his long-time love affair with horse racing. HBO series starts Sunday.

http://www.npr.org/2012/01/25/145706854/david-milch-trying-his-luck-with-horse-racing

[Glimmerglass]

See also this thread … Possible HBO pilot show going back to 2010. One of the links on it is behind the scenes with how its filmed.

The New York Times review (thankfully not by Joe ‘I hate Racing’ Drape)
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/arts/television/hbos-luck-starring-dustin-hoffman.html?_r=1

Numerous reviews are out there and most of the negative comments come from ‘horse people’. While there is no one single voice, some of the complaints are that they’d rather see Seabiscuit meets Little House on the Prairie type of feel good PG-rated saga.

[CVPeg]

Thanks for the links - enjoyed the NYTimes review. I actually was given free HBO on Dish Network last month, and have kept it in order to see this series (and because it’s cold and icy and the days are short!)

Think it sounds perceptive considering all the “types” who grace the stands.

[danceronice]

It’s HBO. Meaning take any actually sex, drugs, and vices that actually occur and ramp up X10 for THE DRAMA! Which is why HBO shows are usually way more interesting than network (besides the drastically better production values.) Deadwood was not quite the hotbed of sex and violence shown, Rome was not a documentary, Luck is not going to be different in that regard.

And like most HBO shows I’ll be waiting for the DVDs…

[Glimmerglass]

Andy Beyer - Washington Post/DRF 1-26-12 “Milch’s ‘Luck’ rises above typical television fare”

Milch remembers that he was about 6 years old when his father introduced him to horse racing with a trip to Saratoga. He has been hooked ever since, but what hooked him was not the sport’s beauty but “the degenerate side of the game.” He said, “Dad was related to all kind of bookmakers and nefarious types, and all of that appealed to me.”

Milch is a gambler and admits he has gone though some degenerate phases on his own. He has had enjoyed triumphs − he cashed a $161,659 pick six at Hollywood Park by keying a horse he owned, and he owned two winners of Breeders’ Cup events, Gilded Time in 1992 and Val Royal in 2001. He knows the racing world thoroughly and recognizes it as a perfect setting for a drama. “There’s no human type,” he said, “that’s not represented at the racetrack.”

While Milch ordinarily eschews sentimentality, he recognizes that the strong affinity of people for the animals is part of the reality of the racetrack. In this respect, as in almost all others, “Luck” is a rare TV drama: It is authentic.

[Glimmerglass]

A pretty interesting racing tie-in (yes, its a Pick 6, which isn’t new, but the target audience is) with kicking off show …

App part of the promotion for the season premiere of HBO’s new original series “Luck” excerpt

This innovative app offers Facebook users a chance to win $50,000 by submitting their picks for the winners in a series of LIVE thoroughbred horse races. The six races - known collectively as The HBO LUCK Pick Six – will be run from Santa Anita Park (Los Angeles) and Gulfstream Park (Miami) and streamed LIVE beginning at 4pm EST on Saturday January 28, 2012 via the Luck Facebook App for users to watch and join in the excitement of being at the track.

Something like this certain will help racing in so far as the handle does keep the whole business going.

[Alibhai_s_Alibar]

[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;6105110]
A pretty interesting racing tie-in (yes, its a Pick 6, which isn’t new, but the target audience is) with kicking off show …

App part of the promotion for the season premiere of HBO’s new original series “Luck” excerpt

Something like this certain will help racing in so far as the handle does keep the whole business going.[/QUOTE]

That’s definitely a clever tie-in. I like it.