Stuart Hogg’s girlfriend Leonna Mayor announced their split on 9 January 2026, ending a relationship that had been under intense public scrutiny since it first surfaced in late 2023. Mayor, a professional jockey turned television presenter, confirmed the breakup on Instagram with a brief but pointed statement: “I am no longer with Stuart.”
Their relationship played out against the backdrop of Hogg’s domestic abuse conviction for a five-year pattern of abusive behaviour toward his ex-wife Gillian. That conviction, the sentencing that followed, the birth of their son Teddy, and the eventual breakup form a story that goes well beyond a typical celebrity split. Anyone searching for Stuart Hogg’s partner or Stuart Hogg’s wife will find a more complicated picture than expected.
This article covers who Leonna Mayor actually is, the full relationship timeline, the legal case that overshadowed everything, and where both parties stand now in March 2026.
Who Is Leonna Mayor? Stuart Hogg’s Ex-Girlfriend
From Stoke-on-Trent to the Racing School
Leonna Mayor was born on 21 August 1990 in Stoke-on-Trent, England. She got into horses young, starting at Brian Braugh’s yard in Audley before working as a showjumper in Whitchurch at 13. By 16, she had enrolled at the British Racing School in Newmarket, where she secured a placement with trainer Tony Carroll.
That early commitment set the direction for her entire professional life. She spent a year as a stable lass at Carroll’s yard before transitioning into competitive racing.
Professional Jockey Career (2009-2013)
Mayor rode as a professional flat jockey between 2009 and 2013, accumulating 31 career wins. Her first victory came on her 51st mount — a slow start that makes the eventual tally more impressive, not less.
She competed across British racecourses and earned respect within the weighing room as a rider who delivered results in a physically demanding, male-dominated sport. The tabloid label “world’s sexiest jockey,” which followed a 2013 photo shoot for Zoo magazine, tended to overshadow her riding record. That bothered her supporters more than it seemed to bother Mayor herself.
An ankle injury sustained during a fall at Kempton Park in October 2012 effectively ended her riding career. She has also spoken about her grandmother’s death from cancer as a factor in her decision to step away. She retired from the saddle in 2013, aged 22.
Television Career with ITV and Sky Sports
Mayor transitioned into broadcasting and quickly established herself as one of the most recognisable faces in British racing media. She joined Sky Sports Racing as a presenter and pundit, then landed a role with ITV Racing — appearing on live coverage of events including the Epsom Derby, Royal Ascot, the Grand National, and Goodwood.
Her Derby day debut was a breakthrough moment. As she told the Racing Post in 2022: “To be trusted to be part of the team on one of ITV’s most important days felt amazing. I always thought being a jockey was the best thing I could possibly do but I think I’ve probably ended up in the perfect job for me.”
Beyond racing, Mayor has been open about living with vitiligo, an autoimmune skin condition. She has used her social media platforms to raise awareness and support others managing the same diagnosis. She also serves as an ambassador for Racing to School, a charity that uses horse racing to engage young people in education.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Leonna Mayor |
| Born | 21 August 1990, Stoke-on-Trent, England |
| Jockey career | 2009–2013 (flat racing), 31 wins |
| TV roles | ITV Racing, Sky Sports Racing |
| Major events covered | Epsom Derby, Royal Ascot, Grand National, Goodwood |
| Advocacy | Vitiligo awareness, Racing to School ambassador |
Stuart Hogg’s Marriage to Gillian Hogg
The Marriage and Four Children
Before Leonna Mayor became Stuart Hogg’s girlfriend, his ex-wife was Gillian Hogg. The couple married during the early stages of his professional career at Glasgow Warriors. Their marriage spanned his peak years in rugby — the back-to-back Six Nations Player of the Tournament awards in 2016 and 2017, his appointment as Scotland captain, and his move to Exeter Chiefs in 2019.
Stuart and Gillian Hogg have four children together. The children’s names have been kept out of most public reporting, a boundary both parties appear to have maintained throughout the legal proceedings that followed.
Five Years of Domestic Abuse (2019-2024)
The abuse Hogg subjected Gillian to was not a single incident. According to court records and reporting by the BBC and Police Scotland, it constituted a sustained pattern of behaviour lasting five years, from April 2019 to August 2024. The charge, brought under Scotland’s Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act, covered shouting, swearing, tracking her movements, and sending her messages that were alarming and distressing in nature — reportedly more than 200 such messages.
The severity of that timeline matters. This was not a moment of lost temper. It was a course of conduct that ran through his entire period at Exeter Chiefs, through international seasons, and through the births of their children.
Conviction and Sentencing at Selkirk Sheriff Court
Hogg pled guilty on 4 November 2024 at Selkirk Sheriff Court to one charge under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act. He did not contest the allegations. He was also fined £600 for breaching bail conditions by repeatedly contacting Gillian after his arrest.
Sentencing took place on 9 January 2025, again at Selkirk Sheriff Court. Sheriff Peter Paterson handed down a community payback order with one year of supervision and a five-year non-harassment order prohibiting contact with Gillian.
| Sentencing Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Court | Selkirk Sheriff Court |
| Guilty plea date | 4 November 2024 |
| Sentencing date | 9 January 2025 |
| Charge | Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act — five-year course of conduct |
| Sentence | Community payback order, one year supervision |
| Non-harassment order | Five years |
| Bail breach fine | £600 |
Dr. Marsha Scott, chief executive of Scottish Women’s Aid, described the sentence as “trivial” in public comments reported by the Daily Mail. The reaction from domestic abuse organisations was broadly critical — a community payback order for five years of sustained abuse struck many observers as disproportionately lenient.
Stuart Hogg and Leonna Mayor: The Full Relationship Timeline
Going Public in November 2023
Stuart Hogg’s relationship with Leonna Mayor first became public in November 2023. The timing attracted immediate scrutiny — it emerged just days after his ex-wife Gillian had given birth to their fourth child. Hogg confirmed the relationship on social media in January 2024, sharing photos of himself with Mayor.
The couple appeared together at horse racing events, and Mayor incorporated their relationship into her social media presence. For a brief window, the optics looked like a fresh start for both of them.
Baby Teddy and Life in France
In July 2024, Hogg came out of retirement to join French club Montpellier, relocating to the south of France. Mayor joined him there. In February 2025 — just weeks after Hogg’s sentencing — she gave birth to their son, Teddy John Hogg, in France. He is Hogg’s fifth child overall.
Mayor publicly stood by Hogg through the court proceedings and sentencing. She did not issue any statement distancing herself from him during that period, which itself became a point of media commentary.
The January 2026 Split
The relationship did not survive 2025 intact. Hogg’s last appearance on Mayor’s Instagram was in March 2025. Through the rest of the year, her posts increasingly focused on her life as a mother to Teddy, with no sign of Hogg.
On 9 January 2026, Mayor confirmed the split in an Instagram post that left little room for ambiguity: “Now seems as good a time as any. Lots of you guys asking about my situation and life recently. I am no longer with Stuart.” She framed the next chapter around herself and her son: “New year. Fresh start. Me and the most precious thing.”
Hogg responded the same day with a cryptic Instagram post referencing the song “Tit for Tat,” which observers interpreted as a veiled comment on the public narrative. Neither party has spoken in detail about the reasons behind the split beyond Mayor’s statement.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| November 2023 | Stuart Hogg and Leonna Mayor’s relationship becomes public |
| January 2024 | Hogg confirms relationship on social media |
| July 2024 | Hogg joins Montpellier; couple relocates to France |
| November 2024 | Hogg pleads guilty to domestic abuse charge |
| January 2025 | Sentencing at Selkirk Sheriff Court |
| February 2025 | Son Teddy John Hogg born in France |
| March 2025 | Hogg’s last appearance on Mayor’s Instagram |
| 9 January 2026 | Mayor announces split on Instagram |
What Has Happened Since the Split?
MBE Stripped in March 2026
Hogg received an MBE in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to rugby. Following his conviction, public and political pressure mounted for the honour to be revoked. SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn and Scottish First Minister John Swinney both called for its removal, with Swinney calling it “reasonable and understandable.”
On 5 March 2026, an official notice in The Gazette confirmed that King Charles III had directed the cancellation of Hogg’s MBE. The revocation came roughly 14 months after sentencing.
Fresh Arrests in 2026
Hogg’s legal troubles have not ended with the conviction. On 12 February 2026, he was arrested in Hawick in connection with a suspected breach of the five-year non-harassment order protecting Gillian. He was released without charge following a police interview.
On 18 March 2026, Police Scotland arrested Hogg again on suspicion of breaching the same order. The arrest reportedly occurred on what would have been his son Teddy’s first birthday. At the time of writing, no charges have been formally announced in connection with either arrest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Stuart Hogg’s girlfriend?
Stuart Hogg’s most recent girlfriend was Leonna Mayor, a former professional jockey and television presenter for ITV Racing and Sky Sports Racing. Mayor announced their split on 9 January 2026 via Instagram. Before Mayor, Hogg was married to Gillian Hogg, with whom he has four children.
Did Stuart Hogg and Leonna Mayor have a child together?
Yes. Their son, Teddy John Hogg, was born in February 2025 in France, where Hogg was playing for Montpellier. Teddy is Hogg’s fifth child — he has four children from his marriage to Gillian Hogg.
What did Stuart Hogg do to his wife?
Hogg pled guilty on 4 November 2024 to a charge of domestic abuse under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act. The abuse against his ex-wife Gillian spanned five years, from April 2019 to August 2024, and included shouting, swearing, tracking her movements, and sending more than 200 distressing messages.
What sentence did Stuart Hogg receive?
On 9 January 2025 at Selkirk Sheriff Court, Hogg was given a community payback order with one year of supervision and a five-year non-harassment order. He was also fined £600 for breaching bail conditions. He avoided a custodial sentence.
Why did Stuart Hogg and Leonna Mayor split?
Neither party has publicly detailed the specific reasons. Mayor confirmed the breakup on Instagram on 9 January 2026, writing “I am no longer with Stuart” and signalling a fresh start focused on her son Teddy. The split came less than a year after the birth of their child and roughly 12 months after Hogg’s sentencing for domestic abuse.
Was Stuart Hogg stripped of his MBE?
Yes. On 5 March 2026, The Gazette published an official notice confirming King Charles III had cancelled Hogg’s MBE. The honour, awarded in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to rugby, was revoked following his domestic abuse conviction and sustained political pressure.
Who is Leonna Mayor?
Leonna Mayor is a 35-year-old television presenter and former professional flat jockey from Stoke-on-Trent, England. She rode competitively between 2009 and 2013, winning 31 races. She now presents horse racing on ITV and Sky Sports, covering major events like the Epsom Derby, Royal Ascot, and the Grand National. She is also an advocate for vitiligo awareness.
Where Things Stand
The story of Stuart Hogg and Leonna Mayor has moved through several distinct phases — a high-profile romance, a criminal conviction, the birth of a child, a public breakup, and ongoing legal consequences. None of it is resolved. Hogg faces the possibility of further charges related to alleged non-harassment order breaches. Mayor is rebuilding her public life around her broadcasting career and her son.
For anyone searching “Stuart Hogg girlfriend,” the answer as of March 2026 is straightforward: Stuart Hogg and his girlfriend Leonna Mayor are no longer together. The context behind that answer involves domestic abuse, a criminal record, a stripped MBE, and two lives that intersected at exactly the wrong time.
