Race drama cut after horses die

UNITED STATES: The critically acclaimed horse-racing drama series Luck was cancelled yesterday after the deaths of three horses, TV network HBO and producers said.

‘‘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,’’ HBO said.

‘‘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,’’ HBO said.

Luck, starring Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte, began airing in January.

However, two horses had already died after being injured in races filmed last year for the first season of the drama.

A third died on during filming for season.

The American Humane Association, whose representatives were at the scene, said the horse had just passed a veterinarian’s inspection.

The horse was being walked back to its barn when it reared, fell backward and was seriously injured. The horse was euthanised.

The American Humane Association said that Wednesday’s death was an accident ‘‘that was in no way a result of any mistreatment or negligence on the part of HBO’’.

It said HBO had been ‘‘extremely collaborative and responsive’’ to the association’s animal guidelines during filming.

Luck is the story of colorful characters involved in the world of horse-racing, gambling and training, and much of the show was filmed on location at the Santa Anita Racetrack in southern California.

Hoffman’s role as a crime boss who buys a promising Irish racehorse was seen by critics as a tour de force that was likely to bring Emmy nominations for the 74-year-old Oscar-winning actor of movies Rain Man and Kramer vs. Kramer.

But the complex, slow-burning drama was not a huge hit with audiences. Its January premiere attracted less than a million viewers. Wednesday the second