The Flying Scud The horse racing melodrama The Flying Scud was written by Boucicault for a bet, to demonstrate that it would outperform Hunted Down and The Long Strike, all produced in 1866. The play was a sensational success, with long runs in London and New York, and used elaborate staging to complete the illusion of the race, with a real horse for the ending. The play opened at the Holborn Theatre, London, on 6th October 1866. The material for this play comprises a programme from the 1867 production at the Holborn Theatre, a copy and two original colour lithographs from the title pages of sheet music for the play and correspondence with Christopher Calthrop concerning The Flying Scud. 1866-1989