Jockey Leonna Mayor has hit back at the social media backlash she faced during her relationship with former Scotland and Lions rugby star Stuart Hogg
Leonna Mayor, who has been dubbed as the world’s sexiest jockey, has spoken about her split from former Scotland and British Lions rugby international Stuart Hogg. She has also hit back at the online backlash she received during their relationship.
Mayor, who rode 32 winners before an ankle injury cut her jockey career short. She has since taken up presenting racing for both ITV and Sky Sports, and has posed for lads’ mag Zoo, who labelled her the ‘World’s sexiest jockey’. Just days after Hogg’s ex-wife, Gillian, gave birth to their fourth child in November 2023, Mayor and Hogg went public with their relationship.
The couple spent just over two years together and had a son, Teddy, in February last year, before announcing their split back in January. While they were together, Hogg admitted guilt to a single charge of domestic abuse against his ex-wife spanning a five-year period, confessing to shouting and swearing at her, monitoring her whereabouts and sending her messages which were alarming and distressing in nature.
Hogg avoided jail but was handed a community payback order with one year of supervision. Mayor supported her then partner throughout, but in a new interview with the Racing Post, she admits that she could have managed the situation better.
“I don’t think I reacted as well as I could have done,” she said. “I probably handled it badly. I responded to some people on social media when I perhaps shouldn’t.
“Stuart and other people said I should ignore it but we all want to defend people we love, whether they’re in the right or in the wrong. It’s a natural thing to do.
“The big thing that bothered me, and still bothers me, is that lies were printed by some newspapers. It felt like they were printing lots of gossip, and that’s not fair on anyone. There should have to be evidence to back up things that were reported.
“I did try to stay out of it, which is a ridiculous thing to say because I was in it, but I was also thinking about myself. I had a media career and I had an image.
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“I looked like I was defending somebody who was in the wrong. Of course I worried about how I was being perceived but I care about people who care about me. I don’t care about people who don’t care about me.”
During the same chat, Mayor revealed concerns about her career and revealed warnings she was given by those close to her. Now flying solo and bringing up Teddy on her own, Mayor reckons she’s fortunate to have a solid family network supporting her, including Hogg’s mum and dad.
“It’s not what I wanted, and it’s not a choice I made, but it’s what happened,” she added. “I didn’t want to be a single parent and it’s not what I want for my son.
“I want a happy family unit but that’s not what it was and I didn’t think I was going to have that. Instead, I would rather have two parents who are happy in their own lives. I’m also lucky because my mum, my stepdad and Teddy’s grandparents on both sides are all unbelievable.
“Of course I wish there was someone doing this with me but there isn’t and I still massively appreciate that I’ve got something some people never have.”
Mayor has since defended herself once more on social media, hitting back at those who’ve claimed she’s seeking sympathy with her latest sit-down interview.
“I didn’t run off with anybody,” she posted on X, responding to one user. “He (Hogg) was separated before me fyi. And I am not looking for sympathy. Just stating facts.”
Mayor, who is set to make her return to the saddle later this month in a charity race in Nottingham, also received a wave of supportive messages from readers.
She continues to use social media to give updates on her and Teddy’s life. She also uses it to raise awareness of the skin condition vitiligo, which she lives with.