Budweiser Clydesdales clip-clop through Czech Village

About 200 people lined sidewalks in Czech Village Wednesday evening in anticipation of what many of them described as a rare treat - a parade of the famed hitch of Budweiser Clydesdales.

The team of eight strapping horses arrived about an hour late, but at about 6:30 p.m., as they began their clip-clop through town to the beat of a polka song, the exclamations the rippled through the crowd seemed to confirm that many found the experience worth the sweaty wait.

The horses marched down 16th Avenue SW and on to Capone's Restaurant on Third Street SE, where they were put on display. They will also be displayed this week at the Great Jones County Fair in Monticello.

Budweiser says the horses stand about six feet tall, weigh about 2,000 pounds and consume up to 25 quarts of feed, 50 pounds of hay and 30 gallons of water each day.