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

Racing
#61

The show was terrible, nothing but scheming sleazy bums, with the exception of Nick Nolte. And now that a horse died in the making of the first episode and the second breakdown occurred during the filming of episode 7 is completely unacceptable! And should be unacceptable to anyone who truly loves horses.

I missed the first episode thank God, but saw the second one before I knew about the deaths. I will be shocked if it doesn’t get pulled. Too many people stopped watching after learning what happened. It is all over the web. You’d think HBO would be more cautious and choose older more developed horses, knowing that animal deaths flop a film production.

Bless those poor horses.

#62

Oh, don’t be melodramatic. Horses die all the time. Two fatalities months apart is hardly a horror story. The reason they don’t “use race footage” (other than not wanting to look like a cheap indie film and using random races being a continuity nightmare) as someone suggested up thread is because this is not like filming a race. They don’t run a whole race at once, they don’t run every horse in the “race” at the same time for some shots, they don’t even necessarily film the crowd at the same time. Just like any other equine activity, you do it, eventually a horse is going to get killed somehow, probably from something stupid like tripping. Such is life with horses.

#63

You ever been to Clockers Corner or it’s equivelent at tracks across the country at at 6am??? Or the general admission fee or free section in the afternoon around the $2 windows? Man, I do some simulcast wagers on Classics and Breeders Cup occasionally at our local trot track and its…not what you see at the office or mall.

Scheming, sleazy bums make up a fair part of the “betting public” trying to figure out any angle for an advantage. NNs character may well turn out to be one and some of the sleaze balls may turn out to be decent.

I’ll keep watching, getting a real plot going-with twists. Others are free to not watch or drop HBO as suits them. I will refrain from telling them to do what I think is acceptable if they will refrain from telling me what TV to watch.

#64

Wish the episodes were on iTunes for downloading.

As I’m not an HBO subscriber I’ll have to wait for the DVD release, unless it’s being streamed after broadcast elsewhere online?

#65

As in life in general.

#66

Boy, ain’t that the truth.

The show is a pretty unblinking look at track life on all levels and what lies beneath the surface.

Dramatic license? Sure, it’s a TV show. But it’s not on the Disney channel for a reason.

#67

I knew if I came to the Racing section , I’d find a thread on “Luck” I haven’t read through the entire thread , but personally I love the show. I think the cast is wonderful and love the camera work with the horses interpretation of what they are seeing through their eyes, Like , “Who are these jerks with the carrots, but OK I’ll bite” Who’d have thought Gary Stevens could really act and not just comment ! I was skeptical on him taking on such a meaty roll but WOW, I am a Fan…

#68

I’ve been recording the episodes & watching them when I have time, so am behind, but have to admit that it’s definitely the actors that are carrying this. Hoffman, Farina, Nolte, Stevens, et al, are really superb.

#69

Yahoo has made the deaths front page: http://www.thepostgame.com/features/201202/concern-and-anger-over-fatal-horse-injuries-filming-hbos-luck

#70

[QUOTE=ThisTooShallPass;6161810]
Yahoo has made the deaths front page: http://www.thepostgame.com/features/201202/concern-and-anger-over-fatal-horse-injuries-filming-hbos-luck[/QUOTE]

from that article:

"In 2005, two horses died on the set of “Flicka,” a 20th Century Fox family movie starring Tim McGraw. One horse fractured its tibia during a running scene, and another tripped on a lead rope and broke its neck. Still, the AHA said the deaths were unpreventable, and that no one involved in production violated any safety precautions.

Working with horses is clearly a significant risk for filmmakers. The set of “Luck” is equipped with an ambulance for horses and one for jockeys. Horses can only run three times per day, and HBO says veterinarians who specialize in racehorses are present for any running or training. Dr. Rick Arthur, equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board, has even said the racing industry could learn from HBO’s safety measures."

#71

Moot point, now.

#72

Third horse died but show cancelled back in Feb?

I read this in the Post today and came to COTH Racing to see what the deal was.

This thread started in Dec. Was the show reported to be cancelled then? This article indicates show has “halted all future production” (-now in mid-March not Feb).

Washington Post states the decision was made this week:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/tv-column/post/hbos-luck-shuts-down-production-on-horse-scenes-after-third-horse-dies/2012/03/14/gIQAaX3eCS_blog.html

#73

The show was cancelled today, not back in December.

The thread about the show was started back when the show was just about to start, & was simply asking people’s opinions about. The OP simply updated the thread title today to reflect the show’s current status.

#74

What is actually the MOST annoying thing is that HBO dramas for better or worse have some of the most violent content on television. The Sopranos, Deadwood and Boardwalk Empire let no one be safe from violence or death and if you can suspend your squeamishness to these things are terrific viewing, intricate plots and great characters. But, here comes PETA in this situation and they have to cave. I respect their decision to pull the show but I also know that this is exactly the what these organizations are looking for big, splashy news to further their agenda. Any of us in this industry know accidents with horses happen at the drop of a hat. It IS truly sad but it happens on a daily basis.

#75

[QUOTE=Bacardi1;6197002]
The show was cancelled today, not back in December.

The thread about the show was started back when the show was just about to start, & was simply asking people’s opinions about. The OP simply updated the thread title today to reflect the show’s current status.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for clarifying, Bacardi1. My sis is a big fan and she disagreed. ‘E said it’s not cancelled, just on hold.’ I neither watch E nor consider that source reliable.

There is some ambiguity in the producers’ statement. I hold no opinion of show’s morality or integrity. Just wanted to know if this was old news or current. My sis will have to wait and see if the producers try again down the road.

#76

a bit of background info’ (presumably mostly more accurate than the bit about Barbaro’s dying on the track?)

http://blog.sfgate.com/eguillermo/2012/03/15/how-my-wife-stopped-hbos-luck/?gta=commentlistpos#commentlistpos

#77

[QUOTE=twotonejobber;6197021]
What is actually the MOST annoying thing is that HBO dramas for better or worse have some of the most violent content on television. The Sopranos, Deadwood and Boardwalk Empire let no one be safe from violence or death and if you can suspend your squeamishness to these things are terrific viewing, intricate plots and great characters. But, here comes PETA in this situation and they have to cave. I respect their decision to pull the show but I also know that this is exactly the what these organizations are looking for big, splashy news to further their agenda. Any of us in this industry know accidents with horses happen at the drop of a hat. It IS truly sad but it happens on a daily basis.[/QUOTE]

Um, while I suspect that a few chickens may have given their lives to help produce the lovely bloody sacrificial effects on “Rome”, though the shows DO depict violence more realistically than network TV, none of that violence is actually real. It’s like watching a horror movie–unless you stumbled into a snuff film, they don’t actually have actors or stunt performers killed. When there ARE human fatalities it’s a great big massive deal and has not only gotten productions shut down, it’s caused rewriting of rules for use of performers. They didn’t kill the horses on purpose for drama, they were using horses for an activity and a couple died. So I don’t see what HBO and Showtime being able to put in more adult content has to do with it. Of course PETA’s in it for the news value–that’s why PETA and HSUS are involved in EVERYTHING they do. All they care about are donations and headlines, in that order.

#78

Exactly, so why are you busting my chops? Maybe I didn’t make my point succinctly enough that obviously they didn’t kill these animals on purpose but PETA nd HSUS still benefit.

#79

(I thought I posted this but I can’t find it - forgive me if it got buried and I’m blind):

The name “Luck” made me cringe. I’m superstitious, and from everything or anyone I’ve ever known, so are those in the horse racing industry. I don’t mean I’m one of those people who say knock wood and rap at the air as a symbolic gesture - I will have a mild panic attack if there isn’t wood around.

The show was jinxed. Someone on the inside should have advised them against the name.

#80

Good point!

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