On April 29th, the JRA announced that Mitsuru Hashida, 71, a former trainer and chairman of the Japan Trainers Association, will receive the Order of the Rising Sun. An award recognizing his outstanding contributions to the advancement of the livestock industry.

Mr. Hashida said, "I am deeply honored to receive this award. I am deeply moved by the thought that the people of Japan have recognized the benefits of horse racing, in which I have been involved for so long, and the role that horses play in the human world. I will continue to accept the weight of this honor and strive to make as many people as possible aware of the appeal of horses.