'Luck' Cancelled After Only One Season Due to Horse Deaths

Producers HBO announced on Wednesday the show, which is set at Santa Anita and stars Dustin Hoffman, would be cancelled immediately after a horse was put down following an accident on Tuesday. 

Tuesday's accident occurred when a horse who was being led back to its stable reared and fell back, suffering an ultimately fatal injury. This incident followed on from two horses having to be put down after being injured in racing scenes during filming on the first series of 'Luck'. It seemed on the horse front 'Luck' didn't have any luck at all.

On Wednesday the show's producers cancelled the second series, two episodes of which had already been shot.

"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'," read a statement issued by HBO.

"Safety is always of paramount concern, we maintained the highest safety standards throughout production, higher in fact than any protocols existing in horseracing 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."

HBO also issued a statement from the show's co-creators, Michael Mann and David Milch.

"The two of us loved this series, loved the cast, crew and writers," thestatement said. "This has been a tremendous collaboration and one that we plan to continue in the future."

Ex-racehorses are used during the filming of 'Luck'. The first (and now only) series is premiering this Sunday night, 18 March, in Australia on the Showcase channel.