WORLD-FAMOUS CLYDESDALES GRACE PARADE

Downtown Merchants Association members are excited about this year's third annual Christmas Parade of Lights.

Although the event is almost two months away, the parade was a major topic during the association's meeting this week.

"The Clydesdales will be here," said Dennis "Doc" Cain, a chairman for the annual parade. "This will be a great draw for the annual parade."

The Clydesdales are the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales, representatives of Anheuser-Busch for more than six decades.

The Clydesdales, using an eight-horse hitch, will be harnessed and hitched to the famous red beer wagon for the march along the parade route, from Capaha Park down Broadway, south on Main to the pavilion in front of Hutson's Furniture Co.

"The parade is off to a big start," Cain said. "We've sent out entry applications and several of them have already been returned."

Cain expected as many as 120 entries for the parade, up from the 85 last year.

"We're really working the band market this year," said Cain. "In the past we've had only one marching band. Hopefully that will increase this year."

The parade will be Nov. 26, the Sunday after Thanksgiving, at 5:30 p.m.

Parade sponsors are the Downtown Merchants Association and Fox 23 KBSI-TV. River Eagle Distributing Co., 832 S. Kingshighway, arranged with Anheuser-Busch for the appearance of the Clydesdales.

The parade over the past two years sparked a lot of public interest, Cain said. "We've had crowds of 5,000 to 6,000, and this year's event could double that."

The 1993 parade was the first Christmas parade in about 30 years.

The Clydesdales' appearance in Cape Girardeau is one of 300 made annually by the three traveling hitches. Each hitch travels with two Dalmation dogs. In earlier days, Dalmations were bred and trained to protect the horses and guard the wagon while drivers of beer wagons went inside to make deliveries.

Budweiser Clydesdale traveling hitches are based at the Anheuser-Busch breweries in St. Louis, in Romoland, Calif., and in Merrimack, N.H. The Clydesdale horses also can be seen at Grant's Farm in St. Louis.

The giant draft horses were brought to North America in the mid-1800s by Canadians of Scottish descent. Today the big horses are used primarily for breeding and show.

Horses selected for the Budweiser Clydesdale Hitch must be at least 3 years old, stand about 18 hands (6 feet) at the shoulder and weigh between 1,800 and 2,000 pounds.

In addition, they must be of bay color, have four white stockings, have a blaze of white on the face and have a black mane and tail.

A gentle temperament is very important, as hitch horses will meet millions of people each year.

Special arrangements are made when the Clydesdales are on the road. A single Clydesdale hitch horse will consume as much as 25 to 30 quarts of feed, 50 to 60 pounds of hay and 30 gallons of water every day.

The Clydesdales are expected to arrive in Cape Girardeau Nov. 24 and remain here until the following Monday.