Zephyrills, FL — Vincent (Vinnie) J. Boido Jr., age 63, of Zephyrills, Florida, passed away at his home on Sunday (April 18), after a long illness with his loving wife Christine by his side.

Standardbred owner and judge Vincent Boido Jr. passed Sunday at the age of 63. Submitted photo.

Vince was born on June 8, 1957, to Vincent J. Boido Sr. and Dorothy Boido in Hazel Park, Mich.

On Feb. 24, 1996, he married the love of his life, Christine Cope-Boido. They just celebrated 25 years of marriage.

Vince graduated from South Lyon High School in 1975. After high school he attended Lawrence Tech and received his bachelor’s degree.

Vince was a USTA member since 1978. In 1979, he acquired his presiding judge’s license and became the youngest judge in the state of Michigan at the age of 22. Vince loved to judge at the county fairs. His favorite place to go was Holland, Mich., at which the Ottawa County Fair hosted the Wolverine Futurity for many years. He also loved the Kinross fair, located in the Upper Peninsula.

Over the years, Vince owned several race horses. His greatest accomplishment was being a co-owner with Joe and Tina Seekman, Larry Bond and Hal Hewitt on Let’s Drink On It, who was one of the top 10 horses in North America during his 2- and 3-year old racing seasons. Let’s Drink On It banked $851,927 and took a lifetime mark of 1:48.3. Let’s Drink On It is now retired and standing at stud in Indiana. Vince was so proud of his horse, hosting “Let’s Drink On It” gatherings at his home and inviting his friends to help cheer him on from home when he wasn’t able to make it to a race — which only happened a few times as he wouldn’t want to miss a live race for his horse.

His greatest memory was winning an elimination of the Little Brown Jug. He always wanted to be in the winner’s circle there, and to have it happen with a horse he owned was one of his proudest moments in racing.  Vince was also very proud of his Michigan-bred mare that he owned by the name of O’Carrie, who banked $99,424 and took a lifetime mark of 1:55.4.

Vince owned his own company in New Hudson, Mich: RBI Industries, where he retired from in 2012. RBI Industries was a car part company.

Vince had a love for golf. He ran the RBI Golf League for 40 years. During this time, he was able to raise over $200,000 for the Pennrickton Center for Blind Children with his golf league. When he retired from RBI, he moved to Zephyryhills, Fla., and he made it his permanent home. Vince decided he wanted to continue running a golf league, and was able to do so by managing the Putt Putt Golf League in Forest Lake Estates for nine years. He was very active at patio parties, dinners, pool volleyball and many other events at Forest Lake Estates. Vince had a heart of gold and was always willing to help out his friends and family.

Mr. Boido is survived by his daughter, Nicole, two step children Mike Burke from Battle Creek, Michigan and Kelli Burke Wencel from Waterford, Michigan and his god son Jarrod Permenter from Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was preceded in death by his parents, Vincent J. Boido Sr. and Dorothy Boido.

At this time, there will be no visitation. Vince requested to be cremated. A memorial race will be planned to take place at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in Anderson, Indiana.