“Been the Hardest”: MMA Fighter Turned Jockey Chel C Bailey Opens Up About Career and Balancing Dual Sports Pursuit

One person bridges the gap between the two exhilarating worlds of MMA and Horse Riding. And that is MMA Fighter Turned Jockey Chel C Bailey. Bailey began her professional riding career in 2019, prior to which she was a former collegiate wrestler and MMA fighter.

While both sports are fueled by adrenaline, equestrianism, and mixed martial arts present stark differences.  Navigating this contrasting difference and pursuing dual sports, Chel C. Bailey opened up about how she balances the two.

Chel C. Bailey opens up about balancing MMA and Horse Riding

In a recent post on X by a handle called TVG, Chel C. Bailey made a special appearance for FanDuelTV. In the video, the MMA fighter turned equestrian shared her journey from the octagon ring to the racetrack.

She candidly spoke about her love for horses, which began at a tender age. However, this passion took a backseat during her wrestling endeavors but later resurfaced and led her to become a jockey, in what she described as a “full-circle” moment.

In the video, she also shared her goals and shed light on the challenges of balancing dual sports, saying, “Horse racing has been the hardest sport that I have competed in.”

She said the sports had a lot in common, like pressure and competition. However, while riding, you have to be quick and think on your feet, relying on your judgment and strength, whereas in fighting, it was quite different, and the athletes spent months before fights, giving them the ability to navigate situations. Chel C.

Bailey appeared on The Ultimate Fighter 23 in 2016, and snippets of her fight were even showcased in the video. But since early 2018, she has not taken part in the sport. Conversely, she has made waves in the equestrian world since she began her journey. But has she completely given up MMA?

Goals she’s gunning for in both fields

Bailey achieved a significant milestone and recorded her first career win on Feb. 28, 2020, at Oaklawn, aboard Burtnjoe. She transitioned into a journeyman last fall. She also won 22 races last season at Oaklawn. As of November 2023, Bailey has had 153 starts, with 8 wins, 14 seconds, and 16 thirds. Her total earnings for the year are $623,629, And Over her career, Bailey has had 803 starts, with 62 wins, 70 seconds, and 75 thirds. Her total career earnings are $2,422,137, according to Equibase. So what’s next for Chel C. Bailey?

Read more: “It’s Hard”: Illinois’ Equestrians Host Heartwarming Event for Special Needs Children, Spotlighting Therapeutic Horse Therapy

She shared in the video, “I want to win a hundred races; I do want to ride in a Derby; I do want to ride on international soil; I do want to inspire young girls; and I do want to ride the card. I have not hung up my gloves as a fighter yet, so one of my goals is to fight here at the Casino in Oaklawn Park. That’s definitely on the goals-to-do list. I know I can definitely sell out and have a full house.”

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