UFC Fighters Who Are Passionate About Horse Racing

Photo by Youssef Samuil

UFC and horse racing are very different things. But somehow, plenty of UFC fighters have shown deep interest in the sport. So, how do you go from one of the most dangerous combat sports in the world to horse racing?

Well, horse racing has been around for hundreds of years. It has a long tradition, and it is embedded in different cultures. So, fighters develop a passion for the sport long before they start fighting professionally. Most of them grow up on a farm or around horses, and their passion for the sport is forever stuck with them.

But we’re not talking about fans who show up at big events like the Kentucky Derby. This doesn’t make them passionate about horse racing. We’re talking about UFC fighters who are more involved with the sport.

And yes, there are a couple of UFC fighters who take horse racing even more seriously than fighting.

Charles Oliveira

There is no doubt that Charles Oliveira is the most serious person connected to both horse racing and modern UFC.

The former UFC lightweight champion became deeply involved in harness racing. If you’re used to Thoroughbred racing, harness racing is where drivers sit in a two-wheeled sulky behind a Standardbred.

So far, he is the only UFC fighter who has 19 wins from 32 official starts in his home country. He also won the National Grand Prix at Argentina’s Hipódromo de Lincoln with Gora Mermerby Escorpion before making his official U.S. pari-mutuel driving debut at Pocono Downs.

This is actually a racing career. Yes, maybe a part-time one, but definitely a racing career. His experience was also recognized by the United States Trotting Association, which granted him a reciprocal license before the Pocono start.

Okay, Charles does not appear in huge races that are usually covered by big racing sites like TwinSpires, but his racing career cannot be underestimated. It takes a lot of courage, hard work, and consistency to achieve such success. Locals probably love betting on him, and if you are also looking for a horse to place money on, make sure you claim a sign-up bonus from TwinSpires.

But what most people didn’t expect to find out was how nervous horse racing makes him. He is a UFC fighter, who has nerves of steel and nothing makes him nervous. Well, nothing except horse racing.

Jack Jenkins Is the Racing Fan Who Happens to Fight

Jack Jenkins almost has the reverse story.

With Oliveira, people know the UFC champion first and then discover harness racing. Jenkins has spoken about racing so naturally that it often feels like the fighting career is interrupting a future horsemen.

His nickname, "Phar Jack," is a reference to Phar Lap. That alone would be enough to make Australian racing fans suspicious that there is a deeper problem.

There is.

Jenkins has described being introduced to racing by his grandmother, including childhood trips to Moonee Valley. The interest grew into serious fandom. He follows major Australian racing, has spoken about horses such as So You Think and Zaaki, and has discussed wanting to work in the racing industry after his fighting career.

That is the detail that separates him from the casual fan.

Plenty of athletes enjoy racing.

Very few start planning a second career around it.

Jenkins has even talked about training Thoroughbreds in the future. Whether that eventually happens is another question because racehorse training has a wonderful way of turning romantic ideas into 4 a.m. alarms and invoices.

Alexander Volkanovski Grew Up With Racing Around Him

Alexander Volkanovski's connection to racing is less extreme than Oliveira's, but it started much earlier than a UFC promotional appearance.

Volkanovski has said his father owned horses and that he had always been interested in horse racing. Growing up around Wollongong also meant racing was part of a wider Australian sporting culture where major meetings, local tracks, and racing conversations are much harder to avoid than they are in many parts of the United States.

That context matters.

In Australia, horse racing is not hidden inside one famous weekend each year. The Melbourne Cup becomes a national conversation. Sydney and Melbourne have major racing calendars. Regional tracks are everywhere. People who barely follow form can still name famous horses.

So when Volkanovski talks about racing, it does not sound like a new celebrity hobby. He said that his dad owned some horses, and he’s always been drawn to the sport. So, it wouldn’t be surprising if we see him become a racehorse owner soon.

Chel-c Bailey Took the Connection Further Than Anyone Expected.

Chel-C Bailey has the strangest story here.

She came from wrestling, facing some challenges, moved into professional MMA, and appeared on The Ultimate Fighter 23. Then her career went in a completely different direction.

She became a jockey.

Bailey worked as an exercise rider before beginning her race-riding career, and in February 2020, she rode Burtnjoe to her first victory at Oaklawn Park. That is a remarkable transition because MMA and professional race riding demand completely different bodies and skills.

Bailey herself compared the competitive feeling of racing to fighting. In MMA, there is one opponent directly in front of you. In a horse race, the threats are everywhere. Riders are fighting for position, making tactical decisions, and trying to get the best from their horses at the same time.

Final Thoughts

Professional UFC athletes don’t become horse racing fans automatically. They are usually introduced to the sport before their fighting career, and they come back to it once they’re done throwing punches.

We highlighted UFC athletes who are directly involved in the sport. Many others are just casual fans, which again proves that horse racing is a global sport that doesn’t know about borders, niches, or interests. It lives in everyone’s heart.