Clydesdale delivery

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, May 24, 2001 by Madinah Hazim Capital-Journal

The world-famous Budweiser horses made stops along S.W. Wanamaker Road

CHRIS OCHSNER/The Capital-Journal

The Budweiser Clydesdale team pulled a delivery wagon along S.W. Wanamaker Road on Wednesday. The team stopped in at some of the Budweiser retailers along the route. The famous workhorses are in Topeka in conjunction with activities surrounding the Advance Auto Parts NHRA Nationals drag races at Heartland Park Topeka this weekend.

By Madinah Hazim

The Capital-Journal

Eight Clydesdale horses pulling a bright red Budweiser wagon paraded along S.W. Wanamaker Road on Wednesday, delivering beer to stores, bars and restaurants.

"These horses are beautiful," said Topekan Tammy Stickley. "This is very exciting for me and my kids."

Roger Rausch, assistant driver, said each horse weighs about 2,000 pounds and is about 18 hands, or 6 feet, tall.

The horses were dark brown with braided tails and manes decorated with red and white ribbons.

"We have five or six people braiding, so it usually takes an hour to get the horses' hair ready," Rausch said. "In the morning, it takes at least five hours to get the horses ready. We clean their stalls, exercise them and groom them."

Matt Strathman, owner of Strathman Sales Co., the local Budweiser distributor, coordinated the Clydesdales' visit to Topeka.

"We had been planning this for a couple of months," Strathman said. "The Budweiser Clydesdales contacted us because they had an open schedule for this week, which also happens to be a big weekend at Heartland Park. They decided to come and help get the festivities started for the races this weekend."

The Clydesdales arrived in Topeka on Monday afternoon. They were stabled behind the former Montgomery Ward store at West Ridge Mall on Tuesday. The horses' first outing in Topeka was Wednesday.

The wagon started moving at 1 p.m and made deliveries along Wanamaker Road to Bossert Liquor Store, 2121 S.W. Wanamaker; Remington's, 1155 S.W. Wanamaker; Sam's Club, 1501 S.W. Wanamaker; Wal-Mart, 1501 S.W. Wanamaker; Ruby Tuesday Restaurant, 1625 S.W. Wanamaker; and Chili's Bar and Grill, 2021 S.W. Wanamaker.

The Budweiser Clydesdales are scheduled to appear at the north side of the Capitol, 600 S.W.10th, at noon today. Another walk is set for 7:15 p.m. Friday down the drag strip of Heartland Park Topeka, 1805 S.W. 71st. On Saturday, the horses will be traveling to Wamego, and at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, the Clydesdales will be at the opening ceremonies at Heartland Park. On Monday, the horses will be stabled at West Ridge Mall. They will depart Topeka on Tuesday.

Madinah Hazim can be reached at

(785) 295-1182 or mhazim@cjonline.com.