Mark Harrell is all about horsepower

If you're impressed by fine horses and/or large, fancy trailers, you need to take a trip through the northwest section of the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds, just north of the Exhibition Hall. That's where the horse show arena is located.

One of the least publicized, but yet immensely impressive events is being held there. Competition began this past weekend and will continue through Tuesday with several thousand dollars being awarded to winners in nine different divisions.

It's all under the supervision of Mark Harrell, the force behind Mark Harrell Horse Shows who manages similar happenings throughout the country. Once everything is put back into place at the fairgrounds here, he'll be heading to Toronto, then Atlanta, then Texas, then Pennsylvania.

A native of nearby Caseyville and owner of more than 60 horses himself, Harrell is no stranger to Du Quoin or the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds.

"I quit my job in a grocery store when still a young guy and got into the horse business," Harrell said. "It's been my life ever since, and that was back in the 1970s, so obviously I've enjoyed it."

Harrell first came -- and competed -- at the Du Quoin fair when his entry in one of the show classes upset the defending national champion. That's all it took for him to get hooked on the sport and he can't imagine of doing anything else.

"Competing with horses is simply in our blood," Harrell said. "It's no different than the love fine athletes have for their sport whether it be football, basketball or baseball."

"The facilities here at Du Quoin are excellent, perhaps as fine as anywhere we go, and Norm Hill knows what we need to keep everyone happy. That's one of our biggest challenges . . . keeping a smile on their face," Harrell said.

And, who are "they"? The horse owners and exhibitors who average three per horse, according to Harrell who was expecting more than 300 horses to be occupying stalls and competing in the "Mid-Summer Fling" at Du Quoin.

"Many of them have traveled a pretty good distance just to get here -- we have quite a number from Texas -- so we try to treat them right and have a lot of good food and a few parties for them to socialize with each other. It's just like a big, happy family and keeps my staff of 10 hopping to make sure everything is going well," Harrell said.

Hill, a longtime Fair staff member, respects Harrell as well, saying, "Mark runs one of the best shows in the U.S. He has a great background and understands both what the horses, their owners and exhibitors need. We're lucky to have him here in Du Quoin."