PETA Responds to HBO's Decision to Cancel 'Luck'

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has issued a response following news that HBO canceled horse-racing drama Luck after a third horse died during production.

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"Knowing that old, unfit, and drugged horses were forced to race for this series, PETA is glad that HBO has finally decided to cancel the show. We thank the whistleblowers who refused to let these horses' deaths go unnoticed," said PETA in a statement.

"Should Milch, Mann, and HBO decide to start the series up again, PETA will be calling on them, as we have done from the start, to use stock racing footage instead of endangering horses for entertainment purposes. PETA has called on law enforcement to investigate the deaths of the horses used on the set and to bring charges as appropriate," continues the statement.

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This comes less than two hours after HBO announced that "all future production on the series Luck" will end.

"Safety is always of paramount concern. We maintained the highest safety standards throughout production, higher in fact than any protocols existing in horseracing anywhere with many fewer incidents than occur in racing or than befall horses normally in barns at night or pastures. While we maintained the highest safety standards possible, accidents unfortunately happen and it is impossible to guarantee they won't in the future," read the pay cable network's statement.

“The two of us loved this series, loved the cast, crew and writers. This has been a tremendous collaboration and one that we plan to continue in the future," said executive producers David Milch and Michael Mann in a joint statement.

Filming was taking place for the second season of the underperforming drama when the third horse was injured.

On Tuesday, PETA had called on production on the series to be shut down.

"HBO, David Milch and Michael Mann should be ashamed. Three horses have now died, and all the evidence we have gathered points to sloppy oversight, the use of unfit or injured horses and disregard for the treatment of racehorses," the group said in a statement at the time.