WORLD RENOWNED BUDWEISER CLYDESDALES TO
APPEAR AT 2018 CACTUS LEAGUE LOCATIONS
PHOENIX, ARIZONA, FEBRUARY 4th, 2018 – The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales, the symbol of quality and tradition for Anheuser-Busch since 1933, are scheduled to make several appearances in the area March 7th-18th, 2018, including appearances at Tempe Diablo Stadium (Angels), Sloan Park (Cubs), Camelback Ranch (Dodgers), Peoria Sports Complex (Mariners), Surprise Recreation Campus (Rangers), Salt River Fields (D-backs), and Goodyear Ballpark (Reds) in conjunction with the 2018 Cactus League.
The eight-horse hitch will be harnessed and hitched to the famous red beer wagon outside of these respective parks beginning two hours prior to the scheduled first pitch on the following dates:
March 7, 2018 Tempe Diablo Stadim LAD vs. LAA First Pitch at 1:05pm
March 8, 2018 Sloan Park SD vs. CHC First Pitch at 1:05pm
March 9, 2018 Camelback Ranch KC vs. LAD First Pitch at 1:05pm
March 11, 2018 Peoria Sports Complex CIN vs. SEA First Pitch at 1:05pm
March 16, 2018 Surprise Recreation Campus SEA vs. TEX First Pitch at 1:05pm
March 17, 2018 Salt River Fields SD vs. ARI First Pitch at 1:05pm
March 18, 2018 Goodyear Ballpark ARI vs. CIN First Pitch at 1:05pm
The Clydesdales’ appearance in Greater Phoenix is one of hundreds made annually by the traveling hitches. Canadians of Scottish descent brought the first Clydesdales to America in the mid-1800’s. Today, the giant draft horses are used primarily for breeding and show.
Horses chosen for the Budweiser Clydesdale hitch must be at least three years of age, stand approximately 18 hands – or six feet – at the shoulder, weigh an average of 2,000 pounds, must be bay in color, have four white legs, and a blaze of white on the face and black mane and tail. A gentle temperament is very important as hitch horses meet millions of people each year.
A single Clydesdale hitch horse will consume as much as 20-25 quarts of feed, 40-50 pounds of hay and 30 gallons of water per day.
Each hitch travels with a Dalmatian. In the early days of brewing, Dalmatians were bred and trained to protect the horses and guard the wagon when the driver went inside to make deliveries.
The Budweiser Clydesdales can be viewed at the Anheuser-Busch breweries in St. Louis, Mo.; Merrimack, N.H.; and Ft. Collins, Colo. They also may be viewed at Grant’s Farm in St. Louis and at Warm Springs Ranch, the 300-plus acre Clydesdale breeding farm located near Boonville, Mo.