Micah Meeks Wins 13th Annual Juan Saez Leading Apprentice Jockey Award

Micah Meeks earned the 13th annual Juan Saez Leading Apprentice Jockey Award during the closing week of the 2026 season at Horseshoe Indianapolis, Coady Media reported.

The Northern California native secured the honor after recording 21 wins from 214 starts. During her tenure at the track this season, Meeks accumulated more than $525,000 in earnings.

Meeks’ path to the winner’s circle began in the summer of 2024 at Sacramento, where she secured her first career win in her sixth start. Before finding success in Indiana, she worked as an exercise rider for Eddie Kenneally and competed in racing circuits across Maryland and Louisiana.

Her transition to Horseshoe Indianapolis this spring proved successful through a strategic partnership with her agent. Meeks credited her recent performance to the support of Jeremy Acridge, a former jockey in Indiana, who she referred to as “Bugsy.”

“When I got here, he asked for my book. He had Joe Ramos, so it was a pretty easy switch to move to him. He’s placed me on some great horses this season and I appreciate his hard work,” Meeks said.

The award presentation featured Eric Halstrom, the Vice President and General Manager of Racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, alongside Rachel McLaughlin, the track’s Racing Broadcast Production Manager.

The trophy is highly regarded in the racing community and honors a prominent figure in the sport. The award is named in honor of Juan Saez, the 2014 Leading Apprentice Jockey, who passed away following a racing incident that year.

Meeks’ season in Indiana is now transitioning to a different circuit. After commuting to Del Mar over the last two weekends, she is scheduled to spend the winter season in California.

The statistics from her 2026 campaign at Horseshoe Indianapolis illustrate her consistency throughout the year: