Sparrow 40-Horse Hitch
Many 19th century American circuses used 40-horse hitches in their free street parades which drummed up business for their later performances in tents. The huge hitches were mostly "show business," not utilitarian. The last "40" was seen in 1903 as part of Barnum & Bailey Circus. One driver, Jake Posey, said the feat would never be accomplished again. But in 1972 history was re-created when Dick Sparrow drove 40 Belgian draft horses, each weighing about one ton, color matched (sorrel) and all with light colored tails and manes. These were driven in the 10th anniversary of the Schlitz Circus Parade in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the Fourth of July, 1972.
The Zearing community planned a homecoming for Dick and the "40" on Labor Day, September 2, 1972. Iowa Governor Robert D. Ray was grand marshal as over 50,000 people cheered the parade through the streets of Zearing. The Forty pulled the Columbia bandwagon which is 140 feet long and was built in 1903 to haul the "big top." It is owned by the Circus World Museum of Wisconsin.
Fifty to 60 people traveled with the 40-horse hitch caravan. Some were paid and many were volunteers. The hitch was driven at major events around the United States including the Cotton Bowl Parade in Dallas, Texas, the Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington, D.C., the Memphis Cotton Carnival in Des Moines, Schlitz Circus Parade in Milwaukee, at Mitchell, South Dakota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Cheyenne, Wyoming, Davenport, Iowa, Chicago, Illinois, the National Tobacco Festival in Richmond, Virginia, and at fairs in Indiana, Nebraska, Ohio, and Michigan. The hitch appeared in the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, California, in January of 1974.
Many of our Zearing folks helped with the hitch, some during the entire time and many at various times when time and jobs would allow them to help. Our community is proud of the efforts the Sparrow family, and to be home of the world-famous 40-Horse Hitch.
Famous Iowan: Dick Sparrow
The following article is from an ongoing feature in the Des Moines Register called Famous Iowans. The article was written by Tom Longden.
Dick Sparrow has been admired by millions of people through the years, perched atop elegant antique circus wagons as the master of 40 matched Belgian horses stretched out 120 feet in front of him - 10 rows of four horses abreast.
As the driver, Sparrow wielded power over 80,000 pounds of horseflesh. He maneuvered long reins weighing 50 to 75 pounds when slack, and much more when the horses pulled.
The Barnum & Bailey Circus had stopped using a 40-horse hitch in 1904, but Sparrow re-created the feat beginning in 1972 by special request of the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co. as the main attraction in the Old Milwaukee Days July Fourth Circus Parade in Milwaukee. One million people lined the streets, with millions more watching via television.
That fall, Gov. Robert Ray sat by Sparrow as the horseman led the 40-horse hitch in a Labor Day parade in Zearing, attracting 60,000 people to the small town.
Early Learner: Elmer Richard Sparrow, who was born Nov. 29, 1929, and named for his grandfather, still lives in the house in which he was born on Sparrow Farm, four miles southeast of Zearing. One of three children of Ross and Rose Kutter Sparrow, he learned how to lead horses through farm gates at age 3 and by age 4 could ride the farm's Percherons by himself.
Graduating from Zearing High, Sparrow attended Iowa State University, majoring in farm operations. He married Joy Beggs, an Illinois farm girl, in 1950, and they had two sons and three daughters.
Acknowledging the help of his family, friends and dozens of volunteers, Sparrow has taken his horses across the nation for hundreds of appearances. He gained a reputation as the nation's best driver of draft-class horses.
He could dazzle crowds by halting his 40-horse team and making the horses back up. Turning corners required split-second timing and expert maneuvering.
Record-Setter: In 1976, Sparrow bested himself by leading a 48-horse hitch at the Iowa State Fair. Early the next year he duplicated the feat in the Cotton Bowl Parade in Dallas, Texas, and earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records.
The 40-horse hitch, later sponsored by O's Gold Seed Co. of Parkersburg, was discontinued in late 1977, and Sparrow conducted a massive sale of the horses and equipment at his farm, attracting 2,000 buyers.
However, the hitch was recreated for the Milwaukee parade from 1989 to 2002, led by Sparrow's son, Paul, with son Robert as backup.
Today, Sparrow jokes that he is retired, yet remains active as a horse breeder, trainer and judge, also traveling extensively and in demand as a consultant. He offers training sessions about three times a year for people wanting to drive multi-horse hitches.