The ARF Chairman, Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, has been awarded "The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon" by the Government of Japan in the 2024 Spring Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals.

Winfried is the second-ever non-Japanese racing figure to be awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, following Mr Louis Romanet, Chair Emeritus of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, who received the same award in 2010.

In the Conferment published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan on 29 April 2024, it was highlighted that the decoration is in recognition of Winfried’s contribution to promoting the international development of Japanese horse racing and thoroughbred breeding.