The Chevy Chase Inn, Lexington’s oldest bar, is celebrating it’s 90th anniversary this year, and coincidentally, so are The Budweiser Clydesdales, who were here previously in 1959.
Kevin Heathcoat has been a co-owner of the Chevy Chase Inn since 2015.
Local police estimated the crowds Wednesday afternoon to be several thousands strong, made up of locals, drinkers and families and a handful of PETA protestors.
Euclid Avenue was shut down between Ashland and Fontaine for the occasion. There were 8 horses pulling the hitch, immaculately turned out in traditional harnesses, and with the iconic dalmation riding shotgun. Heathcoat and his wife spent a few minutes posing on the hitch before the horses thrilled the crowd by slowly parading up and down the street.
In a business that’s tough in even the best of times, Heathcoat choked up talking about the support the bar has enjoyed from the local community and how much it means to him.
The horses had a pit stop at Keeneland en route to rest, and they travel in luxurious comfort and style in three enormous 18 wheeler horse vans.
