HBO has picked up the new drama series Luck, it was announced today by Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming. Luck is a provocative look at horse racing - the owners, gamblers, jockeys and diverse gaming industry players. Luck begins shooting this fall at Santa Anita Park and other Los Angeles locations.

"Michael Mann delivered a pilot from David Milchʼs brilliant script that took our breath away," notes Lombardo. "We are truly excited that these two artists, and our extraordinary cast headed by Dustin Hoffman, will be bringing Luck to life."

The cast for the pilot stars Dustin Hoffman, Dennis Farina, John Ortiz, Kevin Dunn, Richard Kind, Jason Gedrick, Ritchie Coster, Ian Hart, Tom Payne, Kerry Condon, Gary Stevens and Nick Nolte. Jill Hennessy guest stars.

Pilot credits: executive producers, David Milch, Michael Mann and Carolyn Strauss; co-executive producer, Henry Bronchtein; producer, Dustin Hoffman; written by David Milch; directed by Michael Mann.