Budweiser Clydesdales legendary team, hitch, handlers and Dalmatian come outdoors to Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel in Salamanca, N.Y

SALAMANCA, N.Y. – To celebrate their 81st anniversary, the iconic Budweiser Clydesdales will visit Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel in Salamanca, N.Y. on Wednesday, Aug. 6.

The eight-horse hitch team’s upcoming visit is one of numerous appearances it will make throughout North America in 2014, and the horses never fail to draw a crowd wherever they go. And, there is much more than just meets the eye, as an exceptional level of care and a proud heritage are inextricably bound to each of the magnificent creatures.

On April 7, 1933, August A. Busch, Jr. and Adolphus Busch III surprised their father, August A. Busch, Sr., with the gift of a Budweiser Clydesdale hitch to commemorate the repeal of Prohibition. At the time, the horses were a relatively new breed, as farmers living in the 19th century along the banks of the River Clyde in Scotland bred the forerunner of the Clydesdale, called the Great Flemish Horse. Today, a team of dedicated handlers work to ensure the well-being and quality of care provided to the Budweiser Clydesdales.

The expert handlers travel with the hitch, and are on the road at least 10 months every year. When necessary, one handler provides around-the-clock care for the horses, ensuring their safety and comfort. Each hitch horse will consume as much as 20 to 25 quarts of whole grains, minerals and vitamins, 50 to 60 pounds of hay and 30 gallons of water per day.

To qualify for one of the traveling hitches, a Budweiser Clydesdale must be a gelding at least four years of age, stand 72 inches at the shoulder when fully mature, weigh between 1,800 and 2,300 pounds, have a bay coat, four white legs, a white blaze, and a black mane and tail. As the horses are being transported in the iconic Budweiser Clydesdales trailers, mounted cameras are connected to monitors in the cabs that enable the drivers to keep a watchful eye on their precious cargo during transport. The team stops each night at local stables so the “gentle giants” can rest. Air-cushioned suspension and thick rubber flooring in the trailers ease the rigors of traveling.

In addition to the expert handlers and wagon drivers, no hitch is complete without a Dalmatian. The breed is associated with horses and valued for their speed, endurance and dependable nature. Dalmatians serve as companions to the horses and were first introduced as part of the Budweiser Clydesdales team in the 1950s.

The public can witness this care level of care and heritage with the Budweiser Clydesdales up close and personal at Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel on Wednesday, Aug. 6 from noon to 2 p.m., free of charge. Plenty of free parking is available at Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel along outdoor lots and the hotel parking ramp. In addition, during the event, guests can receive $10 in Free Slot Play and enter for a chance to win a PlayStation 4. More information about the event is available at www.senecaalleganycasino.com.   

About Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel

Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel is nestled at the foot of the majestic Allegheny Mountains along the New York/Pennsylvania border and is located off exit 20 of the Interstate 86 near U.S. Route 219. The property is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. Guests can enjoy nearly 2,000 slot machines and more than 30 table games, seven dining locations, live entertainment and a AAA Four Diamond Award-winning hotel with 413 deluxe rooms and suites, a spa and salon, fitness center and indoor pool.

More information is available by calling 1-877-8-SENECA (1-877-873-6322) or visiting www.SenecaCasinos.com. Connect with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, download our mobile app and view us on YouTube.

About Anheuser-Busch

For more than 160 years, Anheuser-Busch and its world-class brewmasters have carried on a legacy of brewing America’s most-popular beers. Starting with the finest, all-natural ingredients sourced from Anheuser-Busch’s family of growers, every batch is hand-crafted using the same exacting standards and time-honored traditions passed down through generations of proud Anheuser-Busch brewmasters and employees. Best known for its fine American-style lagers, Budweiser and Bud Light, the company’s beers lead numerous beer segments and combined hold 47.2 percent share of the U.S. beer market.

Anheuser-Busch is the U.S. arm of Anheuser-Busch InBev and operates 12 local breweries, 17 distributorships and 23 agricultural and packaging facilities across the United States, representing a capital investment of more than $15.5 billion. Its flagship brewery remains in St. Louis, Mo., and is among the global company’s largest and most technologically capable breweries. Visitor and special beermaster tours are available at its St. Louis and four other Anheuser-Busch breweries. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com.

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