Vote the World Famous Budweiser Clydesdales into the Advertising Hall of Fame

"Here comes the King, here comes the big number one......" If you are anywhere near the Baby Boomer generation, then you are certainly familiar with the above jingle for Budweiser beer. The number one selling beer in the world is, of course, made right here in St. Louis by the world's largest brewer, Anheuser Busch. We are also home to some of the most famous horses in the world, the Budweiser Clydesdales.

The Clydesdales are quartered at Grant's Farm, just south of St. Louis. The farm takes its name from our eighteenth president, Ulysses S. Grant. In the 1850's, Grant founded and farmed a portion of the 281 acres of land. The land later became the ancestral home of the Busch family and is now owned and operated by the brewing company as an animal park that is free and open to the public. The park has over 1,000 animals and 100 different species from all over the world in addition to the luxury, heated barn that houses the Clydesdales.

The stable is home to about 35 Clydesdale mares, stallions, and foals. Anheuser Busch has one of the biggest herds of Clydesdales in the world, numbering at some 250 worldwide. The horses have to pass strict guidelines to be a part of the team. The full-grown horses must stand 18 hands tall and weigh between 2,000and 2,300 pounds. The horse must be bay in color and have a blaze of white on its face, a black mane, and a black tail. It also must have the telltale white feathering on all four hooves. All of the draft horses are geldings. As well as being paraded around at special Cardinal's baseball games the Clydesdale team can be seen prancing around on signs in practically every neighborhood bar in the city as well as being on everything from coffee mugs to T-shirts, key chains, and even painted on the bottom of some swimming pools. One of the most bizarre sights that I have seen connected with the Clydesdales is when they paraded Auggie Busch's bright red cowboy hat encased in glass around the stadium in honor of the former king of Brewers during a World Series game.