Two Horses Die on HBO Series "Luck"

Latest: HBO announced it will end production of the second season of its mini-series "Luck" after a third horse died during filming. A horse on the way back to her stall reared, flipped over, and struck her head yesterday. It was euthanized on recommendation of an attending veterinarian. Both PETA and the industry sponsored American Humane Association called for an inquiry. "Luck" star and producer Dustin Hoffman did not comment on the decision to end production. Tipsters to PETA said the first two horses to die on the set were not in condition to race. Both were retired thoroughbreds, but were asked to perform twice in the same day. Healthy racehorses need a week to recover from the stress of competition. One of the horses, a five year old named "Outlaw Yodeler", was said to be extremely sore and on anti-inflamatory and painkilling drugs. The other was an eight year old with arthritis. The horses broke down after their second run, suffering shattering bone fractures.

{15.02.12}HBO has produced a new series, "Luck" starring Dustin Hoffman as Chester "Ace" Bernstein that revolves around characters and events at the Santa Anita race track in southern California. Two horses have died during the production and HBO confirmed that it has suspended filming scenes at the track after the second horse died. It has also consulted the American Humane Association an organization sanctioned by the film industry to suggest measures to be taken to protect animal participants. According to an AHA spokesperson, new protocols were put into place including X-rays of all horses used in filming and racing has resumed. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) denounced HBO for filming a thoroughbred falling during a race and severely fracturing its leg. The frightening accident recalled to mind the fate of the Derby winner Barbero. The injured horse was euthanized on the track immediately after the race, a heart wrenching event that was filmed and included in the pilot episode. One of the series dramatic themes is the dark side of thoroughbred horse racing, of which there is considerable amounts ranging from racketeering, illegal gambling, race fixing, doping, and destruction of horses. Equally dark is the exploitation of animals in the entertainment industry. The pilot episode received good critical reviews, but less than a million viewers watched it. PETA recently made news by representing orcas in San Diego federal court asking for their release from "slavery". The judge found that the 13th Amendment applies only to humans. A spokesman for PETA said that his organization "looks toward the inevitable day when all animals are liberated from the slavery of human entertainment".