Budweiser Clydesdales to appear in Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota

Lakewood Ranch is about to get a taste of the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company's ability to plan a celebration.

On Thursday from 5 to 6 p.m., the Budweiser Clydesdales will parade along Lakewood Main Street in celebration of Gold Coast Eagle Distributing earning the Ambassadors of Excellence Award from Anheuser-Busch.

Pat Bruenning, the vice president of sales for Gold Coast Eagle, said the award is presented for excellence in distribution and sales, but most importantly for being involved in the community and being a good partner.

After being on display for about an hour on Lakewood Main, the Clydesdales will stride over to Gold Coast Eagle Distributing's facility at 7051 Wireless Court, Lakewood Ranch.

John Saputo, Gold Coast owner and president, will then receive the coveted red jacket that goes with the Ambassadors of Excellence Award along with a bronze statue of the Clydesdales in a ceremony. Gold Coast Eagle is the 23rd wholesaler to receive the award of the 465 Anheuser-Busch wholesalers in the United States.

The Budweiser Clydesdales also will be on display in downtown Sarasota along Main Street on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. and from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday along Bridge Street on Anna Maria Island.

The Budweiser Clydesdales teams are made up of eight horses with two alternates and have been used for promotions since the repeal of Prohibition in 1933. The teams are dispatched from either St. Louis or Merrimack, N.H.

Horses on the team must be at least 4 years old and must weigh between 1,800 and 2,300 pounds.