Leonna Mayor has built an unusual career that connects professional horse racing with television broadcasting. Once a flat-racing jockey, she is now known to racing audiences through her work with ITV Racing and Sky Sports Racing.
Interest in Leonna Mayor age, career history, family background and personal life has increased as her television profile has grown. Born on 21 August 1990, Mayor is 36 years old as of October 2026. Her story includes racing success, injury, personal setbacks and a successful move into sports broadcasting.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Leonna Mayor |
| Date of Birth | 21 August 1990 |
| Age | 36 years old (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Stoke-on-Trent, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | Racing presenter and former flat jockey |
| Known For | ITV Racing, Sky Sports Racing and horse racing coverage |
| Racing Career | 2009–2013 |
| Career Wins | 32 professional wins |
| Height | Not officially confirmed |
| Relationship | Publicly linked with Stuart Hogg |
| Net Worth | Not publicly verified |
| Social Media | Active on Instagram and other racing-related platforms |
Who Is Leonna Mayor?
Leonna Mayor is a British former professional flat jockey and horse-racing presenter. She spent several years competing professionally before retiring from race riding in 2013.
Today, she is a familiar face within British racing coverage. Racing League describes her as a former professional jockey who became a leading presenter for ITV Racing and Sky Sports, while she has also managed Team Yorkshire.
Her experience in the saddle gives her television work a practical perspective. Instead of simply reporting results, she can discuss horses, jockey decisions and race conditions from personal experience.
Leonna Mayor Age
Leonna Mayor was born on 21 August 1990, which makes her 36 years old in 2026. She grew up in the Stoke-on-Trent area and developed an interest in horses while still young.
At around 13, she worked for showjumper Peter Lamb in Whitchurch. She later spent time working around racehorses in Stoke-on-Trent, gaining experience long before racing became her profession.
Her early exposure to horses eventually created a pathway into competitive riding.
Early Life
Mayor’s path into racing did not come through a wealthy racing family. In a detailed Racing Post interview, she spoke about growing up on a council estate in Stoke and experiencing a difficult family background.
Those circumstances make her career particularly interesting because she built her position in racing through practical experience rather than established family connections.
Horses became an important part of her teenage years. By spending weekends and school holidays around stables, she gradually developed the riding skills that later supported her professional career.
Racing Career
Leonna Mayor became a professional flat-racing jockey and competed between 2009 and 2013.
Racing Post records that she rode 32 winners as an apprentice, while earlier accounts note that she had to wait until her 51st competitive ride before recording her first victory.
Her first winner is widely reported as Colinca’s Lad at Yarmouth. From there, she continued building her record across British flat racing.
Although 32 victories did not make her one of Britain’s most decorated jockeys, the experience gave her significant racing knowledge that later became valuable in broadcasting.
Why She Retired
Mayor stopped professional race riding in 2013.
An ankle injury contributed to the decision, but she has explained that there was also a much more personal reason behind her retirement. In her Racing Post interview, Mayor discussed how the death of her grandmother deeply affected her and influenced her decision to step away from riding.
Leaving the saddle did not mean leaving racing. Instead, she began developing a second career that eventually placed her in front of television cameras.
Television Career
Broadcasting became Mayor’s main profession after her racing career.
She has worked with ITV Racing and Sky Sports Racing, providing race analysis, interviews and commentary informed by her previous experience as a jockey. Racing Post described her as one of racing’s promising television performers during her rise in broadcasting.
Her role has continued to grow. In 2026, Racing Post still identified her as an ITV presenter while reporting on her planned return to the saddle for a charity race.
She has also worked as Team Yorkshire manager in the Racing League, adding another professional role within British racing.
Return to Riding
One interesting development in Mayor’s career came in 2026.
After around 13 years away from competitive race riding, she agreed to return to the saddle for the Autism In Racing charity race at Nottingham, scheduled for 28 October 2026.
The cause has personal significance. Mayor has publicly said that her younger sister Amelia is autistic, giving her additional motivation to support the event.
She began preparing physically for the race months in advance.
Leonna Mayor Height
Leonna Mayor’s official height has not been reliably published by ITV, Sky Sports, Racing Post or other authoritative racing organisations.
Several biography websites circulate height figures, but there is no strong primary source confirming them. For that reason, it is better not to present a specific measurement as established fact.
Her background as a professional flat jockey naturally required a lightweight and athletic physique. She has remained physically active after retirement and continues riding horses recreationally.
Family
Mayor has spoken more openly about some aspects of her upbringing than others.
She has discussed growing up in Stoke and having a difficult relationship with her father. Racing Post reported that she grew up without the kind of family wealth or racing privilege sometimes associated with the sport.
She has also spoken warmly about her grandmother and explained how her grandmother’s death affected her emotionally.
Her younger sister, Amelia, has autism, something Mayor discussed while supporting Autism In Racing.
Personal Life
Mayor’s personal life attracted wider media coverage after her relationship with former Scotland rugby player Stuart Hogg became public.
However, her professional identity predates that relationship by many years. She had already established herself as a jockey, broadcaster and racing personality before receiving increased mainstream attention.
Because relationships can change, readers should distinguish current verified information from older reports published during earlier stages of her personal life.
Physical Appearance
Leonna Mayor is known for her athletic build, blonde hair and polished television appearance.
She has also spoken publicly about vitiligo, a condition that causes areas of skin to lose pigmentation. By discussing the condition publicly, she has helped make it a visible part of conversations surrounding body confidence and appearance.
Her openness about personal challenges has contributed to the straightforward public image viewers often associate with her.
Net Worth
There is no verified public figure for Leonna Mayor’s net worth.
Online biography sites sometimes publish estimates, but these amounts are not supported by financial filings or statements from Mayor herself.
Her income is likely connected mainly to television broadcasting, racing media work, presenting roles and other professional involvement within horse racing.
She previously earned money as a jockey, but her current broadcasting career appears to be her principal professional focus.
Social Media
Leonna Mayor maintains an active public presence online, particularly on Instagram, where she shares racing-related content, television appearances, horses and parts of her personal life.
Social media also gives her a direct connection with racing fans beyond television broadcasts.
Her online presence has helped expand her profile from former jockey to recognizable racing personality and presenter.
Interesting Facts
Mayor began working with horses when she was only 13 years old.
She recorded 32 professional winners before retiring from racing.
She later successfully moved from jockeying into television broadcasting.
She has managed Team Yorkshire in the Racing League.
In 2026, she prepared to return to competitive riding after more than a decade away to support an autism charity event.
Final Thoughts
At 36 years old, Leonna Mayor has already experienced two distinct careers within horse racing. She moved from working around horses as a teenager to becoming a professional jockey and then established herself as a respected racing broadcaster.
Her 32 career wins, work with ITV Racing and Sky Sports, Racing League involvement and 2026 charity-race return show that racing remains central to her professional life.
While details such as Leonna Mayor’s exact height and net worth remain unverified, her age, racing record and broadcasting career are much better documented. Her transition from the saddle to television remains one of the most interesting parts of her public story.
FAQs
How old is Leonna Mayor?
Leonna Mayor was born on 21 August 1990, making her 36 years old in 2026.
What is Leonna Mayor famous for?
She is known as a former flat-racing jockey and British horse-racing presenter, with appearances on ITV Racing and Sky Sports Racing.
How tall is Leonna Mayor?
Leonna Mayor’s exact height has not been officially confirmed by a reliable primary source, so published online figures should be treated cautiously.
What is Leonna Mayor’s net worth?
Her exact net worth is not publicly available. Her income is mainly associated with broadcasting, racing media work and previous professional riding.
Is Leonna Mayor still involved in horse racing?
Yes. Although she retired as a professional jockey in 2013, she remains closely connected to racing through television presenting, Racing League work and charity riding events.
