Unlucky: Three Horse Deaths in HBO Drama ‘Luck’ Suspends Filming
- Posted on March 14, 2012 at 11:43am by
Liz Klimas
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LOS ANGELES (The Blaze/AP) — The goal of the HBO racetrack drama “Luck“, according to the series’ website, was to take a “provocative look at the world of horse racing.” Filming of the series has been provocative to say the least with three horse deaths connected with the show and now an indefinite suspension of filming while an investigation is underway.
As recently as Tuesday, a horse used in the show was injured and euthanized. The humane group that oversees Hollywood productions has issued an immediate demand “that all production involving horses shut down.”
“We are also insisting that this stoppage remain in full effect pending a complete, thorough, and comprehensive investigation,” the American Humane Association said in a statement. It noted that the accident didn’t occur during filming or racing.
The animal was being led to a Santa Anita Park racetrack stable by a groom when it reared and fell back Tuesday morning, suffering a head injury, according to HBO. The horse was euthanized at the track in suburban Arcadia, where “Luck” is filming its second season.
In the series, which was created by David Milch (”Deadwood,” ”NYPD Blue”) and looks at racing’s seedier side, Dustin Hoffman plays a crime kingpin who’s scheming to gain control of a racetrack and introduce casino gambling.
Dustin Hoffman in HBO's Luck. (Photo: HBO/Steve Schapiro)
Watch this recap of the drama thus far:
During season-one filming in 2010 and 2011, two horses were hurt during racing scenes and euthanized. HBO defended its treatment of the animals, saying it’s worked with the American Humane Association and racing industry experts to implement safety protocols that exceed film and TV industry standards.
The American Humane Association’s film and TV unit, the group sanctioned and supported by the entertainment industry to protect animals used in filming, called for a production halt at the Santa Anita Racetrack in suburban Arcadia after the second horse’s death.
Racing resumed after new protocols were put in place and proved effective, Karen Rosa, the AHA unit’s senior vice president, said in February.
On Tuesday, Dr. Gary Beck, a California Horse Racing Board veterinarian, said he had just examined the horse as part of routine health and safety procedures before it was to race later in the day. The horse passed the inspection, the AHA said.
“The horse was on her way back to the stall when she reared, flipped over backwards, and struck her head on the ground,” Beck said in a statement. An attending veterinarian determined that euthanasia was appropriate, he said.
(Photo: HBO/Gusmano Cesaretti)
Dr. Rick Arthur, medical director of the state racing board, said such injuries occur in stable areas every year and are more common than thought. A necropsy will be conducted, he said, which is routine with all fatalities at racing board enclosures.
An American Humane Association safety representative was at the track when the accident occurred and “as always, all safety precautions were in place,“ HBO said in its statement that said it was ”deeply saddened” by the horse’s death and was working with the AHA on its inquiry.
The first two horse deaths drew criticism from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which said that safety guidelines used in filming failed to prevent the deaths “so clearly they were inadequate.”
Kathy Guillermo, a PETA vice president, said at the time the group didn’t consider the matter closed.
“Racing itself is dangerous enough. This is a fictional representation of something and horses are still dying, and that to me is outrageous,” she said.
On Tuesday, Guillermo said PETA sent complaints about “Luck” to Arcadia police and an animal humane society in nearby Pasadena.
“Three horses have now died and all the evidence we have gathered points to sloppy oversight, the use of unfit, injured horses, and disregard for the treatment of thoroughbreds,” Guillermo said, calling for an immediate halt to filming.
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maddmell
Posted on March 15, 2012 at 5:27pmI worked at a Thourobred farm way back in the 80′s. The sad truth is that they bred the inteligence right out of those horses. It’s very common for them to run strait through fences, rearing and falling over, etc…I think the main problem is keeping horses in stalls. Hooved animals should not be kept in a prison cell
Report Post »Moozmom
Posted on March 15, 2012 at 9:09amMy heart breaks for humans or animals who are mis-treated. Something about a horse being abused is particularly offensive to me.
Report Post »kathystone
Posted on March 15, 2012 at 1:04amThe truth about horseracing is finally here! These young horses are born in april. HOwever, theya re considered yearlings the following January. Theya re started in training as “long yearlings” at 15 months old. There is a 1 in 4 chance each started horse will be dead before his or her fourth birthday. Yet PETA and the humaniacs refuse to go after this indusry. Why? Because it is run by rich people, the Mob, or what? Young horses should not even be started until they are 3 years old because their legs are not strong enough to support the stress of running full speed carrying a rider. How many thoroghbreds are still sound and not crippled by age 7, when some breeds like Lippizaners are just beginning their training. Very few. It is sad that the folks that claim to be animal lovers don’t see this indusrty for the money making business it is and damn the horses and their health
Report Post »kralspaces
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 11:53pmHBO should have stopped production on ‘Game Change’ as well. They have a way of killing of conservative politicians too.
Report Post »Guitar Master
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 5:43pmzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
From THE REPORTER
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Now you wouldn’t expect the degenerates in the movie industry to use good common sense would you? These are the same people that give you the murders, gutter sex, violence, vulgar language and generally corrupt influence which has been permeating our society in movies for the last 40 years or so.
We should question whether this is a consorted attempt by the elite to infiltrate our social system in order to break down our society (part of the NWO’s plan?).
Where was PETA when the first horse died? Where was PETA when the second horse died?
Bottom LIne: Shut this production down and send Dustin Hoffman and the rest of those fat cats back to where they came from !!
Report Post »Goldline_scam
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 5:50pmOnly the profoundly ignorant would insinuate that art shapes society. It’s the other way around, you dolt: art is a REFLECTION of society. Typical toothless hillbilly Blaze readers.
Report Post »ICRedifURBlue
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 7:56pmToo bad it was a horse……much prefer that it was a peta member………but it was just a horse…….hey can we get president hussein o on the show, now there’s a horse to put d……………….did I say that out loud ?……………….
Report Post »Homeschoolmama
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 2:25pmI am shocked and saddened by the people posting on here who claim to be experienced with horses and saying – ya, stuff like this happens and is unpreventable. This is totally preventable with the proper training and patience! I realize this is a TV series with deadlines but they should have started working with these horses sooner. There are several Natural Horsemanship programs, my favorite is Parelli, out there that build a horse’s confidence and aid them in being less fearful. We need to stop considering horses as JUST AN ANIMAL and consider that this prey animal is smart enough and brave enough to go to war when we ask it to and perhaps we are wrong to disregard it so quickly. The first two Earth’s were from broken legs. Depending on the break, those can be set and casted just like with humans. Often the expense is the reason this is not done. Well, I think HBO can afford the expense and rather than putting them down they should have been treated. I seems to me they are not valuing the lives of these horses as they should.
Report Post »Homeschoolmama
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 4:12pmNot Earth’s, deaths. Stupid auto correct!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:37pmSince it’s on HBO, let me take a stab at this. The good guys are all racially diverse liberals with gay friends and the bad guys are all white conservatives who only care about making money.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:35pmHBO is getting punished for Bill Maher. It is not quite the dead horse head in the bed, but it is close. Heed the warning HBO. God is not laughing.
Report Post »cryinginthedesert
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 5:43pmLol
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:35pmI cannot stand the american humane society which has no idea ever what they are doing with horses and is a never ending money pit that doesn’t benefit animals as they claim nor do I have any care for peta however it is time to shut this show down. not only is it an awful portrayal of horse racing and the lifestyle etc but they are overworking these horses without enough experienced folks willing to say no to it. its got to quit. horse racing is a dangerous sport but the best race horses love their jobs. I have owned several ex racers and retrained for dressage and other disciplines, happy horses don’t flip themselves over to their death. plenty of movies and shows have been made without these types of stories regarding the animals. they should have got a new training staff in long before this.
Report Post »rs9
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:40pmI own three horses and they are an accident looking for a place to happen, anything like a gum wrapper will scare a horse and sometimes they rear up and can fall on their backs, they dont have to be at the track for these things to happen, this is just liberal animal whining. It cracks me up to see these liberals eating each other, HBO thinks because they are leberal they will get a pass, bot nooooo!
Report Post »Homeschoolmama
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 2:06pm@RS9- if your horses lack that much confidence, please look into Parellli Natural Horsemanship. You will be amazed at how much better they could be.
Report Post »Edward
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:24pmUnless they figure out something this will effectively kill the show. Maybe they can cgi the race sequences. But its bad enough the damage these horses take in the racing and to lose 3 filming a show is just silly.
Report Post »LizinWA
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:13pmAs an experienced rider and horsewoman, I can tell you that the last death, as it says in the article, is actually fairly common. Unfortunately, it’s unpreventable. If the horse decides to ignore its training and rear back (usually out of fear of something) with that much force, in spite of pressure created by the halter on the poll of the horse’s head, if the horse falls on its head wrong (what happened to the third horse) or lands wrong on its back, there’s really nothing that can be done.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:28pmagree that a rearing flipping horse is an accident. what bothers me about this is the fact they have a ton of non horse people working with a handful of “experienced” horse people being paid a great deal of money to make the horses perform up to hollywood expectations. Horses at the standard track aren’t raced repeatedly to get a shot like they are on the show. I do not like this show. Plenty of movies have been made without so many deaths of horses. ego and inexperience is leading the deaths for this show.
Report Post »dutchy
Posted on March 15, 2012 at 7:48amYes CRYINGINTHEDESERT, Peta should stop the killing of animals, and find them loving homes instead. It is sickening to see the photos on that site! Adopt a pet from the shelter, rather than needless endless breeding!
Report Post »Watcher1952
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 11:57amNow if HBO would do the same thing to Bill Maher the world would be grateful…
Report Post »nocalifornia
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 11:53amPETA will butt out as soon as HBO pays them off! Remember liberals and socialist can do no wrong as long as they “contribute” to organizations like PETA.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 11:52amWell there goes the claim that “No animals were harmed during the filming of this movie”
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 11:50amNO Liberals were harmed nor killed in making…
Report Post »piper60
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 11:49amPETA needs to butt out. Horses die everyday from natural causes.
Report Post »GeorgeWashingtonslept here
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 11:57amThese horses did not die of natural causes…………………….what a dumb comment. And btw, I own many horses…….you doofus.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:29pmyes horses do die of natural causes but this is not the case here.
Report Post »sawbuck
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:48pmCan we agree..
Report Post »That the death of these horses that died ,
Was Not do to the owners of the horses, thatprobably loved them.
And PETA is a liberal hypocrite organization…
Posing as a advocacy group for animals.
cryinginthedesert
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 5:47pmthe day PETA stops euthanizing animals is the day I will actually listen to anything they have to say.
http://www.petakillsanimals.com/proof/
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