The Budweiser Clydesdales are a uniquely American icon that everybody recognizes and loves. Now, as the West Annapolis Business Affiliation (WABA) announced in November, they’re coming to West Annapolis as part of the upcoming Military Bowl at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Katcef Brothers, the Anheuser-Busch wholesale distributor that has been in business in Annapolis for more than 80 years, is sponsoring the Budweiser Clydesdale full hitch team appearance.
The event, officially entitled “A Budweiser Clydesdale A Miracle on Annapolis Street” will be held Sunday, December 30th from 11AM to 3 PM on Annapolis Street. Visitors can see the gentle giants in person as they also enjoy a Food Truck Festival, a tent with children’s activities and another tent where adults can enjoy a selection of Anheuser-Busch beers. The Annapolis Fire Department will have marshmallows for roasting over fire pits and the Annapolis Police Department will have Cocoa with a Cop, an activity sponsored by Grauls Markets. “The West Annapolis Business Affiliation is excited to welcome everyone to charming Annapolis Street for an event that will have activities for residents and visitors of all ages,” said Frederik De Pue, President of WABA. “We appreciate Katcef Brothers’ generous gesture to our community as well as the help provided by the city of Annapolis to make this event memorable for locals and out of town guests alike.” Hyatt Commercial, Scarborough Capital Management, and Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Church Circle are major sponsors of the family activities.
A portion of proceeds from the West Annapolis event will go to Patriot Point, the Military Bowl Foundation’s 290-acre retreat for recovering service members, their families, and their caregivers on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
History of the Clydesdales
This majestic breed of tall draft horses came to America from Clydesdale, Scotland. You might recognize them from their role in Budweiser's Super Bowl commercials, but in fact, the company's Clydesdales have been a part of the Anheuser-Busch story since April 1933. That year Prohibition was officially repealed; August A. Busch, Jr. and Adolphus Busch III surprised their father, August A. Busch, Sr., with the gift of a six-horse Clydesdale hitch to commemorate the event. The presentation of the champion Clydesdales moved father, sons, and drivers to tears; the phrase “Crying in your Beer” was officially coined.
Since then, the Budweiser Clydesdales have become a local, national and even a global phenomenon. They’ve been to China to celebrate the Year of the Horse and to Russia for the World Cup. From their first East Coast Repeal Celebration tour in 1933 to the Super Bowl commercials we see today, the Budweiser Clydesdale teams remain iconic around the world thanks to continued support from the company they represent. The Budweiser stables currently house 150-200 Clydesdales at facilities in Warm Springs Ranch, the premier Budweiser Clydesdales breeding establishment in Boonville, Missouri, Fort Collins, Colorado and Merrimack, New Hampshire. Visitors can also see the Clydesdales up-close at their training facility on the grounds of Grant’s Farm in St. Louis. Each facility plays a different and essential role in the Clydesdale program.
“Grant’s Farm is where the Clydesdale ‘prep school’ is,” Jeff Knapper, the Director of Heritage for AB InBev, Budweiser’s parent company, said in a recent interview. “It’s where we teach the horses their manners — everything from how to take baths, to how to meet people, to how to get their hooves clipped.”
At age 4, the Budweiser Clydesdales are sent north to Merrimack, NH, where they’re trained for a life in the spotlight. “They have to be acclimated to intense public life, and the trainers do a great job of getting them ready for life on the road. Most of them live this life for 10 to 15 years.”
To properly prepare the Budweiser Clydesdales for their appearances, a team of dedicated handlers oversees their care. Expert groomers travel on the road with the hitch at least 10 months out of the year. Another team manages their diet; each hitch horse will consume as much as 20 to 25 quarts of whole grains, minerals and vitamins, 50 to 60 pounds of hay, and up to 30 gallons of water on a warm day.
When it comes time to travel to an appearance, 10 horses, the famous red, white, and gold beer wagon, and other essential equipment are transported in three 50-foot tractor-trailers. Cameras mounted in the trailers are connected to monitors in the cabs that enable the drivers to keep a watchful eye on their precious cargo during transport. Air-cushioned suspension and thick rubber flooring in the trailers ease the rigors of traveling. The team stops each night at local stables so the “gentle giants” can rest.
The team also travels with hitch drivers, who endure a lengthy training process before they assume the prestigious role of a Budweiser Clydesdale Hitch Driver. Driving the combined 12 tons of wagon and horses requires expert skill and physical strength. The 40 pounds of lines held by the driver plus the tension of the horses pulling creates a weight of more than 75 pounds.
When they’re not making appearances around the country, the Budweiser Clydesdales also continue to be marketing stalwarts for Anheuser-Busch. They first appeared in the Super Bowl in 1986 and have since been featured in more than 25 Super Bowl commercials for the company.
The 2018 Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman matches teams from the ACC and the American Athletic Conference on Monday, Dec. 31. This year Virginia Tech will play Cincinnati. Kickoff is at noon and the game will be televised on ESPN. Tickets and parking passes can be purchased at militarybowl.org/tickets.
For media inquiries, contact Andrew Ricci at aricci@tridentdmg.com. For all other questions about the event, please contact Diana Love atWABAMD2@gmail.com or 410-703-3062.
