VIDEO: Horse deaths on set lead HBO to cancel high-profile TV show, ‘Luck’

HBO’s racetrack drama, “Luck,” is off the air after a series of deaths involving the race horses involved in the show.

According to the New York Daily News, the horse reared up, fell over and struck his head. The horse was being walked to its barn, but was immediately euthanized.

USA Today reports that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wrote to HBO demanding the show quit filming racing scenes. This is the third horse death during the filming of the highly promoted show.

Bad 'Luck': Horse Deaths Force HBO to Cancel Show

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“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 in a statement.

The Los Angeles Times speculated that the horse deaths may have given HBO an excuse to cancel a show that’s under-performed, especially given the amount of pre-broadcast publicity the show had.

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