Althouse: Bad "Luck."

March 14, 2012

Bad "Luck."

A third horse dies, and the HBO show is canceled.

40 comments:

DADvocate said...: I've been wondering what Sarah Jessica Parker's been doing since Sex In the City ended.; 3/14/12, 8:28 PM
Hagar said...: No more westerns, ever?

Because of PETA and the AHA???; 3/14/12, 8:32 PM
Bob_R said...: The people evaluating the treatment of the animals and from Hollywood, race tracks, and PETA. Nominations for biggest pack of scumbags are open.; 3/14/12, 8:33 PM
chickelit said...: HBO now stands for "Horses Bumped Off"?

I knew they liked to pick on onnocents but that's ridicuful!; 3/14/12, 8:38 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: OOPS!

I am offended about any talk of a "third horse."

This obvious reference of, to, and about Christian mythology is untoward and hateful, given that just another single horse makes four, hence "APOCALYPSE" talk when it doesn't make me feel good because this is an election year.

This will not stand.

"Third horse" is code terminology for racist horses and the white power structure supporting those horses, some black and some white, for opposite reasons.; 3/14/12, 8:38 PM
traditionalguy said...: Were the deaths mares? I suspect the GOP's war on female breeding stock has been exposed at last.

The GOP is well known for favoring sstallions in its POTUS blood lines. Female race horses have as much chance as Sarah Palin did to beat Stud Romney, sired from a famous earlier Stud Romney.

But the Bush Breed still sires winners. The feisty thoroughbred Jebbiscuit is sniffing victory lane as we speak.; 3/14/12, 8:50 PM
traditionalguy said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 3/14/12, 8:51 PM
Known Unknown said...: CGI horses. Problem solved.; 3/14/12, 8:57 PM
edutcher said...: Do we have any data on horse deaths from the 20s - 60s when Westerns, Bengal Lancer tales, Biblicals, and all manner of spectacles used horses by the hundreds?

(I know about Michael Curtiz and "Charge of the Light Brigade"; I'm talking about all the other times when the director wasn't trying to kill the horses)

How many horses died on "The Virginian" or "Wagon Train" or the average Duke Wayne flick?

This smells like cover up the evidence and blow town.; 3/14/12, 8:58 PM
Jason said...: Were the deaths mares? I suspect the GOP's war on female breeding stock has been exposed at last.

Ha! Two thumbs up for that one.; 3/14/12, 8:58 PM
virgil xenophon said...: I'm pissed. "Luck" was an EXCELLENT series in ALL aspects--production values, casting, plot--you name it. It had great verisimilitude. As someone who lived in Louisville Ky for 20 yrs not far from Churchill Downs in Old Louisville and who has a good friend that is a prominent horse-trainer there, and as a stock-broker who put personally put together several breeding pvt limited partnerships, I think I know a little about the industry, and I can assure you that the point made in the linked article about the fact such injuries are more common than the general public knows is VERY very true. Score one for PETA and the nannyfication of America..; 3/14/12, 9:01 PM
Chip S. said...: That show was a complete abortion.; 3/14/12, 9:02 PM
virgil xenophon said...: Chip S has obviously not spent much time at the track or involved with the horse-racing and/or gambling industry. I split time between New Orleans and Marina del Rey and have spent a lot of time at the Fairgrounds in New Orleans and at Santa Anita in Arcadia. (I've eaten in the restaurant many of the scenes in the series were shot in) And because of my wife, being from Opelousas, I've spent time at Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino. (In fact Evangeline Downs moved from its original location half-way between Opelousas and Lafayette to its present one in Opelousas EXACTLY to get zoned for the Casino) Also, One of my fraternity brothers used to own the now defunct Jefferson Downs on the lakefront in New Orleans. Additionally one of my closest friends runs the family corporation that presently owns Arlington Park in Chicago. And one can't live in New Orleans w.o having first hand, personal knowledge of Mafia involvement in all aspects of gambling and other cash businesses like cigarette vending machines, etc.--it's involvement is everywhere even today. "Luck" was far more truth than fiction..; 3/14/12, 9:27 PM
Anonymous said...: I heard it was just the use of horses that was banned, but maybe they decided to close it all down.

Three deaths? Three too many. Come on, this is just entertainment.; 3/14/12, 9:29 PM
Carnifex said...: As Virgil Xenophone states, injuries are common. The horses used in racing are immature for the most part. For example, the Triple Crown is reserved for three year olds. At three years a horse has not fully developed its bones and muscles. A secret of the industry is that all horses are born on Jan. 1.

Obviously, not all horses are born on New Years Day, but for the purposes of wagering, they are counted as such. Those born later in the year are even more undeveloped than those born earlier.(hence all born on the same day). But they still have to race, and win, against older, bigger horses.

I don't want to end horse racing. Far from it, it's fun, colorful, and exciting. But I do wish they start the horses at 4 to 5 years old, preferably 5.

PETA is in the business of collecting money from Hollywood leftist, and killing pets. I have nothing but contempt for them.

I think HBO would have been better served making a reality show about real people and real horses in the real world. Horse racing is filled with colorful people, and stories.

ie.) Secretariat ran the fastest Kentucky Derby ever, with each furlong faster the one before. Big Red was accelerating as he ran around the entire track, not cruising or slowing down. The horse that ran the second fastest Derby ever... he came in second to Secretariat.

In his later years, at the Kentucky Horse Park, he seemed to actually enjoy posing for pictures, and interacting with his visitors.(we take Secretariat almost as serious as we take basketball); 3/14/12, 9:32 PM
Wally Kalbacken said...: Jeez, I was enjoying the series a great deal. I especially like the 4 guys living in the motel and their sometimes impenetrable racing/gambling jargon. The guy who lost his stutter after the failed suicide attempt in the middle of an earthquake... So many good story lines. Michael Mann - say it ain't so.; 3/14/12, 9:32 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: PC madness kills a good, promising show. HBO execs must be a bunch of pussies [can I say that?].; 3/14/12, 9:38 PM
Wince said...: "Is it safe?"

Not if you're a horse.; 3/14/12, 9:38 PM
Mark said...: They are horses.

Cows give better milk, better meat, but run a lot slower, and riding them is no fun at all.

Having said that, my favorite athlete of all time is Secretariat.; 3/14/12, 9:52 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: IN summary I say: you should NOT do for you and yours.

YOU should do for me.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.; 3/14/12, 9:53 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: This series Luck is the only reason I did not cancel my HBO over the Rush/ Bill Maher issue. Now, I will cancel it. HBO will remember it as No Luck.; 3/14/12, 9:54 PM
virgil xenophon said...: Just noticed--DADvocate at the top is a bad, bad, person, LOL!!; 3/14/12, 10:04 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: And:

By GOD.

If I bring up something, and ridicule you responding to it, that would therefore, eo ipso, render you absurd and me KingPimp.

Thank you, again.

Again, thank you.; 3/14/12, 10:06 PM
Roger J. said...: Second the comments about Secretariat--the gretest horse that ever was (at least in horse racing circles). Who can forget Secretariat's magnificent race in the Belmont where he won by 30 some odd lengths and was accerating as he crossed the wire.; 3/14/12, 10:10 PM
Chip S. said...: Chip S has obviously not spent much time at the track or involved with the horse-racing and/or gambling industry.

Not nearly as much as I'd like. But if HBO ever makes a series about sex tourism, I'll let you know how accurate it is.

Hung is pretty true-to-life, IMO.; 3/14/12, 10:10 PM
Panda Jerk said...: FWIW, the horse had to be euthanized when it reared up and came down on its head . . . as it was being walked by a groom to the barn. It was not involved in racing or filming when the injury occurred.

Unfortunately, when dealing with an animal as large and as high strung as a Thoroughbred racehorse these things happen. I'm a third-generation horseman with over 15 years in the business before the recession drove me into the arms of law school (ugh). I've nearly had them go over on me and have seen it happen to others. Seen it happen with a horse being handled by an expert. It sucks.

That said, PETA and, to a lesser extent, the AHA are useless as tits on a bull. They scream and stamp and latch on to any headline they think can bring them attention, while intentionally overlooking the fact that if they got what they wanted in ending horse racing in this country the consequences would be horrific. Tens of thousands of horses would cease to have any economic value and, unsuitable as pets, will have to be killed en masse. And killing them is the best that can be hoped for. Those that starve to death would have been better off with a dose of the "pink stuff".

Nevermind destroying the lives and livelihoods of thousands of people who give more of themselves, on a daily basis, to the care and welfare of these animals than any of these posers ever would.; 3/14/12, 10:45 PM
edutcher said...: Third for Secretariat.

And, yes, the Belmont was a magnificent performance.

Although, IIRC, he was so far ahead, the jockey reined him in and he was coasting (and had been for a bit) when he crossed the finish line.; 3/14/12, 10:46 PM
Unknown said...: From the looks of his photograph, Hoffman could reprise his role as the aged Jack Crabb in "Little Big Man" without makeup.; 3/14/12, 10:50 PM
William T. Sherman said...: Is David Milch the most snake bitten writer in Hollywood?

Deadwood
John from Cincinnati
Luck

Three of the best written dramas of the last twenty years, and all of them killed before their time.; 3/15/12, 3:52 AM
Brian Brown said...: The show wasn't that good anyway.

It always ended with "Ace" laying in his bed in his robe and his sidekick talking to him. That creeped me out.

And man, Dustin Hoffman is SHORT!; 3/15/12, 5:42 AM
Rusty said...: Mark said...
They are horses.

Cows give better milk, better meat, but run a lot slower, and riding them is no fun at all.

Having said that, my favorite athlete of all time is Secretariat.

It's not like they vote or anything.; 3/15/12, 7:44 AM
Known Unknown said...: And man, Dustin Hoffman is SHORT!

I just saw Dustin Hoffman in Barnes and Noble, and yes, he is that short in real life.; 3/15/12, 8:13 AM
Bryan C said...: I was just getting into that show. It had a very unusual, almost relaxed pace about it that was strangely appealing.

I suppose we should just hand over all our domestic animals to PETA shelters, where they'll be humanely and pre-emptively euthanized to avoid all unnecessary suffering. Then they'll be able to focus on the plight of wildlife - cold and hungry, out there all alone without even a single supermodel dressed in lettuce leaves to administer a lethal injection.; 3/15/12, 8:18 AM
Jake said...: Plus side is they can devote more $$$ to Game of Thrones now.; 3/15/12, 8:20 AM
Mitch H. said...: I was going to say, so *that* is why the horde in Game of Thrones only had about twenty horses - the other HBO productions killed off all the trained show-horses.; 3/15/12, 9:01 AM
Hazy Dave said...: So, Bill Maher is now the only program for fans of necrobestiality on HBO?; 3/15/12, 9:17 AM
Thorley Winston said...: Plus side is they can devote more $$$ to Game of Thrones now.

Shh, don’t jinx it. High production costs are what killed “Deadwood,” “Rome” and “Carnivale.” If HBO decides to cancel or not renew “Game of Thrones” or “Boardwalk Empire,” that will likely be the reason as well.; 3/15/12, 10:20 AM
Thorley Winston said...: So, Bill Maher is now the only program for fans of necrobestiality on HBO?

Well I suppose that and “True Blood.”
(I kid, I kid); 3/15/12, 10:22 AM
Beldar said...: I watched the first two episodes. As best I could tell, it was a show about losers losing money at the track and Dustin Hoffman riding in the back of a Mercedes.; 3/15/12, 4:04 PM
rhhardin said...: My vet, returning from a horse call, remarked that horses are accidents looking for a place to happen.; 3/15/12, 7:23 PM