Clydesdales to visit Sikeston

Standard Democrat

SIKESTON, Mo. -- They may not be Dasher or Dancer nor Rudolph, but another famous team will visit Sikeston in December.

The Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales will be on display for five days in Sikeston thanks to the Bob Ralph Distributing Co.

"It is very hard to get a visit by the team," said Jamie Ralph, sales manager. "But they were coming through the area and offered to make a stop, and of course we agreed."

The Clydesdales can be seen from 2-4 p.m. Wednesday at the Sikeston Elks Club, 1-3 p.m. Friday at Sikeston Factory Outlet Stores, 1-3 p.m. Saturday in downtown Sikeston and from 1-3 p.m. Dec. 23 at the South Pointe Shopping Center will include a special photo session.

While the team features eight Clydesdales, 10 will actually make the trip to Sikeston. Two horses travel as alternates.

The Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales were formally introduced on April 7, 1933, when they thundered down Pestaliozzi Street in St. Louis, carrying the first case of post-Prohibition beer from the St. Louis Anheuser-Busch brewery.

Today the teams are carefully maintained and serve as a public relations tool.