HBO show out over horse deaths

LOS ANGELES - Agence France-Presse

Actor Nick Nolte is shown in a scene from the cancelled HBO series ‘Luck.’

A hit US television series starring Dustin Hoffman has been canceled after three horses died during filming, the channel which makes the show announced on March 14.

“Luck,” about thoroughbred racing and also starring Nick Nolte, launched in January and had already been picked up for a second season, with production mostly at a horsetrack east of Los Angeles.

But a first horse died on the set in 2010 and another died last year. Then a third animal had to be put down on March 13 after falling backwards and striking its head. “Safety is always of paramount concern,” said Home Box Office, which aired the show.