HBO Plans Horse Racing TV Series ‘Luck’ Dustin Hoffman in the lead
HBO has given the green light to writer/producer David Milch for a proposed TV series, “Luck.” The series revolves around the lives of people on Horse Racing tracks and is expected to have Dustin Hoffman in the lead. “Luck” will center on the inner-workings of the horse racing circuit, while highlighting the behind the scenes drama that includes excessive gambling.
Production on the first season is expected to begin in fall or early 2011 at Santa Anita Park, which is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. The shooting for the pilot episode took place in Santa Anita and the season would span 9 weekly episodes and a Pilot.
The creator of the series, David Milch, is himself an avid Thoroughbred Horse Owner and has won Breeder’s cup races twice so far. Michael Mann, director of “Miami Vice,” “Ali,” and “Public Enemies,” has been contacted in an advisory capacity for the series.
The Pilot starred major Hollywood names such as Nick Nolte, Dennis Farina and John Ortiz in addition, of course to Dustin Hoffman. Not all of them would remain with the series, as it goes into production though.
Horse Racing has been struggling through the financial bust and Santa Anita Park itself has not been spared. The Owners of the Santa Anita, Magna Entertainment, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as interest in Horse Racing has been steadily fading in favour of conventional gambling. Racetracks have been looking at slot machines to stay afloat.
That is perhaps why Pete Siberell, could almost not contain his excitement at HBO’s announcement. “It’s hard to quantify how much we feel this could mean to Santa Anita and horse racing in General,” he said. He emphasized the troubles the horse racing industry has been facing lately, adding that the show could help introduce the sport to new people. “This is great news,” he said and something he believed was the needed exactly at this time. Pete believed that the buzz the show would generate about horse racing and Santa Anita Park was fantastic news for both.
Pete is clearly a fan of David Milch and said that Milch’s passion for horse racing would find its way into production. In his optimism, perhaps misplaced, he said that “Luck” could have the same kind of impact on American audiences as “Sopranos.” Unless horse racing could attract younger people and increase viewer ship, the industry would be hard pressed to bounce back.
In the spirit of appealing more to spectators and attracting larger crowds, horse racing in England would be adopting a new decimal system over the traditional fractions system.
Traditionally, odds are expressed as a fraction which represents return on a bet of certain value. 11/8 odds would return £11 in addition to the £8 placed on the bet. Under the decimal system it would be simplified to £2.38 representing the return of that amount on a £1 bet.
The traditional system is popular with regulars at racetracks but younger adults still struggle with the fractions. Even regulars would have problem calculating their winning on a 12-3 odds.
The decimal system would be put to the test in televised races this spring and if in case of a positive feedback, the system would be launched nationwide. A change would depend on preferences of spectators and gamblers. Which system they would go with in the end is something the bookmaker won’t bet on yet.
Tony Calvin of “betfair” said that the decimal system was the obvious choice and they have been using it for almost a decade in their online betting exchange. He said that the Traditional odds were used with older currencies and in modern times they add unnecessary confusion.
The reaction to the change, even if positive, by itself would mean very little to the sport. However, these small steps that make horse racing more accessible and popular are essential steps in the right direction and, perhaps, their combined effect could rescue the industry.
Tags: