Lawsuit claims horses mistreated on HBO's 'Luck'
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Several of the horses used on HBO's canceled series "Luck" were drugged, underweight and sick during production, an animal rights worker who oversaw conditions on the show alleges in a lawsuit.
Barbara Casey's suit filed Monday says she was wrongfully fired from her post at the American Humane Association after complaining about the conditions horses faced on the show, which was canceled after a series of high-profile animal deaths.
The suit claims four horses died during the show's production, not three as previously reported. Horses were "often drugged to perform," and "underweight and sick horses unsuited for work were routinely used" by producers, her lawsuit alleges.
Casey is suing HBO, which has repeatedly denied abusing horses on the show, and the humane association. The association declined to comment, citing the pending lawsuit.
"We took every precaution to ensure that our horses were treated humanely and with the utmost care, exceeding every safeguard of all protocols and guidelines required of the production," HBO wrote in a statement.
Casey's suit states she urged the humane association to report HBO and producers to authorities for possible animal-cruelty criminal charges.
The association "bowed to political and financial pressure and refused to report the production defendants' conduct to the authorities," the lawsuit states.
Casey served as director of the association's Film and Television Unit, which oversees animal welfare and often allows a notice to be attached to the end of films and television shows that says no animals were harmed during production. The nonprofit association's film- and TV-monitoring efforts are paid for through entertainment industry grants, according to the lawsuit.
HBO canceled "Luck," starring Dustin Hoffman, in March 2012 after three horse deaths were reported during production. Casey claims a fourth horse, named Hometrader, was killed in summer 2011 but its demise wasn't documented because it occurred during a hiatus in filming.
The final horse that died during the series' production had been examined by a California Horse Racing Board veterinarian shortly before it suffered a head injury while being led by a groomer to a stable.
By that point, the humane association and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals had both been critical of the show's safety record and praised its cancellation.
Casey's lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
Barbara Casey's suit filed Monday says she was wrongfully fired from her post at the American Humane Association after complaining about the conditions horses faced on the show, which was canceled after a series of high-profile animal deaths.
The suit claims four horses died during the show's production, not three as previously reported. Horses were "often drugged to perform," and "underweight and sick horses unsuited for work were routinely used" by producers, her lawsuit alleges.
Casey is suing HBO, which has repeatedly denied abusing horses on the show, and the humane association. The association declined to comment, citing the pending lawsuit.
"We took every precaution to ensure that our horses were treated humanely and with the utmost care, exceeding every safeguard of all protocols and guidelines required of the production," HBO wrote in a statement.
Casey's suit states she urged the humane association to report HBO and producers to authorities for possible animal-cruelty criminal charges.
The association "bowed to political and financial pressure and refused to report the production defendants' conduct to the authorities," the lawsuit states.
Casey served as director of the association's Film and Television Unit, which oversees animal welfare and often allows a notice to be attached to the end of films and television shows that says no animals were harmed during production. The nonprofit association's film- and TV-monitoring efforts are paid for through entertainment industry grants, according to the lawsuit.
HBO canceled "Luck," starring Dustin Hoffman, in March 2012 after three horse deaths were reported during production. Casey claims a fourth horse, named Hometrader, was killed in summer 2011 but its demise wasn't documented because it occurred during a hiatus in filming.
The final horse that died during the series' production had been examined by a California Horse Racing Board veterinarian shortly before it suffered a head injury while being led by a groomer to a stable.
By that point, the humane association and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals had both been critical of the show's safety record and praised its cancellation.
Casey's lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
There is really no reason that there should have been so many issues on set.   They would not have been using old horses or sick animals and just like humans it is pretty usual for deaths to occur amongst healthy animals.   The fact that they had several deaths is pretty bad, especially all in the same year.  I say this as someone who rides several times per week...
Casey claims a fourth horse, named Hometrader, was killed in summer 2011 but its demise wasn't documented because it occurred during a hiatus in filming.
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Secretariat death a few decades ago caused by future filming of HBO series. Another reason we need mandatory "loser pays" legislation.
Liaaarr! Thoroughbreds are probably the most pampered animals on the planet.  The deaths of, what 2 horses were accidents and had nothing to do with their treatment. Another good reason not to donate to the animal "rights" jerks.
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That being said, the series didn't need the horses.The racing scenes always the weak part of the series.
@Getov Mylon Im guessing that you have not followed thoroughbred racing much......Do you remember what happened to Exceller & Ferdinand?  Hmmmmmm, Im waiting on your cute yet uneducated reply.......Oh yes those "pampered animals" were slaughtered, knocked in the head with a kill bolt, hung by one leg, and had their throats slit and left to bleed out.   Yep that sounds like a pampered life. Â
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While I have never watched this series, having 4 horses die during filming isnt a good sign.  Something was going on there to cause so many deaths.  These horses deserved someone on that set to treat them with care, and if they were not fit for filming they should have received proper vet care and feed.   Â
 @mpatrick  @Getov My involvement with Thoroughbreds goes back to the Nixon Era when I  would ride my bicycle to watch the races at Longacres from the grassy knoll between the north parking lot and I-405.
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I would be the first to have anyone abusing horses flogged and pilloried in the public square but I think this is not one of those cases. Let me tell you what sets off my BS Detector cause I can spot BS 8 furlongs away.
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1. She has an agenda and is not suing on behalf of the animals but of herself.
2. She was fired and no, we don't know why and won't until depositions.
3. She claims the horses were drugged. With what? Lasix and bute? No one goes to the expense of that if they are abusing animals. I also doubt she observed any illicit drugs being administered.
4.She claims that horses were underweight and sick. I would highly doubt that any of the jockeys involved would risk death riding an infirm or doped up horse. I am sure they will be deposed and they will likely  say the horses were fine. Also, from the horses I saw, they seemed OK visually but that could be just makeup or CGI.Â
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Even the best cared for animals get hurt and sometimes die in accidents. It is not evidence of abuse.
As an actual horse owner for over 30 years I can tell you first hand that bute is inexpensive and easy to administer, and as an observer of horseracing for many years I can say that trainers drug horses all the time for racing and all types of athletic events.  So my thought is, if your getting paid pretty well to be on a tv series there are people out there that woulnt mind risking a little something. And certainly wouldnt mind if a few disposable horses lost their lives in the process.Â
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I can also spot BS from quite a distance, so my challenge to you is this.....Go to any horse auction and see where these "pampered athletes" end up and what they look like.   Im sure you will be shocked.   Â
 @Getov Mylon While pampering and doting on may be common in the show/performance realm, it is incorrect to assume that all TBs are well cared for as a whole. Many are not living 'the good life' and in fact, have found themselves in rescues, seeking homes.
 @Getov Mylon Race & show winning thoroughbreds may be pampered but other thoroughbreds are just as likely as any other horse (or animal in general, for that matter) to be poorly treated. And preventable accidents are just as much the responsibility of the animals' caregivers as abuse or neglect. Being drugged, underweight & ill but forced to work anyway can certainly be considered as possible causes for preventable accidents.
I never saw the series but the way I'm reading the article, the horses were not racers anyway; they were in effect "actors".