Relive The Iconic Moment When The Budweiser Clydesdales Lapped Around Churchill Downs
on May 02, 2019 • Updated Apr 29, 2026
The World’s Most Iconic Horses Are The Budweiser Clydesdales
No horse is more recognizable than a Budweiser Clydesdale, and no horse race is more famous than the Kentucky Derby.
The Clydesdales were first introduced to the world in 1933 and have been beloved ever since. They have famously appeared in dozens of commercials, many of which aired during past Super Bowls.
After a few years without their famous four-legged representatives, Budweiser brought the Clydesdales back in 2019. Accompanied by Bob Dylan‘s “Blowin’ in the Wind,” the beautiful Super Bowl ad highlighted the brand’s efforts to use wind energy.
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The commercial showed the horses trotting through a sunlit barley field. Their Dalmatian friend and fellow Budweiser mascot, April, rode along.
However, the Super Bowl wasn’t the only sporting event the famous Clydesdales were associated with in 2019…
Clydesdales Honor An American Tradition At The Kentucky Derby
In honor of the 2019 Kentucky Derby, Budweiser released a commercial celebrating the race’s 145th anniversary and its home at the Churchill Downs racetrack. The ad captures a historic moment, since it marked the first time the Clydesdales took a lap around Churchill Downs.
Considering how long the Clydesdales have been around, it’s crazy to think they never stepped foot (or, hoof) on the track before.
The Budweiser Clydesdale commercial was filmed a week before the 2019 Derby.
The ad shows the racetrack and the horses in all of their glory. Close-up shots show the magnificent horses getting buckled up into their gear, while audio from past Kentucky Derby races plays over soaring music.
Text flashes across the screen, celebrating the tradition of the Kentucky Derby, as one line reads, “From one American icon to another.”
Finally, the Clydesdales and their Dalmatian buddy make their grand lap around the track, to much fanfare.
You can relive the Budweiser Clydesdales’ history-making first lap at Churchill Downs in the video below. The horses looked so beautiful!
Even if you’ve never watched the Kentucky Derby before, this marvelous clip will surely tug at your heartstrings…
