Vincent Hinde Member's Badge Collection
Vincent (Vinny) Max Hinde was born in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, on Friday 3rd August 1962, son of Max and Pat Hinde. Max's father, Vinny's grandfather, Dennis, had raced greyhounds at Earls Barton, Northampton and Peterborough, and was a dedicated follower of Lester Piggott, so it was no surprise that his son Max, and later Vinny, developed an interest in racing. In 1965, when he was just 3 years old, his family moved to a small village close to Wellingborough where his father worked for Weatherby's, the family firm which was first appointed horse racing's administrators by the Jockey Club in 1770. The founding father was James Weatherby and, in the early years of working for Weatherby's, Max delivered racecards to racecourses far and wide. Whenever he was given the opportunity, a young Vinny jumped at the chance to accompany his father, Max, acting as his young assistant.
His father would often get a horseracing badge for him, igniting a passion for collecting the iconic enamel Members badges, a hobby which has remained with him throughout his life. Later, his father visited many racing stables, delivering them their stud books, providing Vinny with the opportunity to get up close and personal to racehorses, trainers and jockeys. Vinny had an affection for horses from an early age, and translated that affinity with horses into a passion for the sport of horseracing, and over the years he has attended many courses with his father. To date, as of 2026, Vinny has visited every British racecourse, with the exception of Devon & Exeter and Kelso. He is keen to emphasis that, whilst he has not gone racing at all of the courses, he has nevertheless visited the majority with his late father whilst helping him with deliveries. On many occasions Max was called upon to attend the Jockey Club in Newmarket in connection with his work; indeed, Vinny's first metal Member's badge was given to him by the Jockey Club during one such visit, and he still treasures that badge to this day. Visiting Newmarket was a constant source of pleasure and excitement for Vinny, who soaked up the atmosphere emanating from the prestigious buildings in the centre of Newmarket, so steeped in racing history. Whilst his earliest memory of the Grand National is Red Rum's unsurpassed record of 3 wins, his best memory of the Epsom Derby is the 1985 win by Steve Cauthen on Slip Anchor.
Dennis and Max Hinde in the early 1950s with Dennis's greyhounds which raced at Earls Barton, Fengate Peterborough and Northampton. The family interest in racing sparked Vinny's fascination with horse racing and ultimately his keeness to build a Member's badge collection seldom equalled in the UK.
On Saturday 12th August 1989, just 9 days after his 27th birthday, and just a year after he had taken her to Great Yarmouth races for her first race meeting,Vinny was very happy to miss racing at Newbury, Ripon, Market Rasen, Lingfield, Wolverhampton and Ripon to marry Sue, not bothering to check whether Polar Bird had won the St Hugh's Stakes or Ibn Bey had won the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury that day. Up to that point Sue's only interest in racing had been an annual bet on the Grand National, but that interest suddenly flourished. Just one year later the couple were blessed with a daughter, Kimberley, who also developed her father's love of horseracing, attending race meetings with her mum, dad, nan and grandad, the first of which was at Newmarket at a very young age.

Kimberley, and her grandma Pat, visited Ed Dunlop's stables with Manchester United Race Club and the pair were fortunate to meet United's manager Alex Ferguson.

Kimberley soon inherited Vinny's devotion to collecting members badges, but was more successful than her father in acquiring badges, for she knew when to smile and who to charm in the racecourse offices. However, once she became a teenager, she developed a wider range of interests, passing her badges to supplement her father's growing collection.
Aintree* Aldershot* Alexandra Park* Ascot* Ayr*
Bangor* Bath* Beverley* Birmingham* Bogside*
Bournemouth* Brighton* Cardiff* Carlisle* Cartmel*

On 28th May 2025 Vinny and Sue were blessed with their first grandson, Jaxson, and Vinny hopes, in time, that Jaxson is as keen on horse racing as Vinny, Sue, Kimberley, Max and Pat are.

Even after nigh on 65 years, Vinny is still eager to discover more about racing badges, and is just as keen to add further rare badges to his collection. He still experiences the same magic, exciting feeling at discovering an old badge that he hasn't got, further enhancing his collection. His most treasured badges are the Portsmouth Park 1937 badge and the 1908 Hull badge, both from racecourses long since closed, but he still lives in the hope of acquiring a Newmarket Subscriber's silver token, but doubts whether such a rare badge will ever be added to his collection.When his daughter left home to pursue her career, he turned her old bedroom into his man cave to store his mammoth, and ever extending, collection of badges. Since his retirement in 2020, Vinny has been able to devote even more time to pursue his hobby, especially after Sue gained a much deserved promotion in her career.

When his father sadly passed away in 2020, Vinny promised to keep on some syndicate shares in racehorses his father had held. Obviously, Vinny carried out the promise and has never regretted this, as many of the shares have increased in value. Even Sue now shares his enthusiasm for the sport, as they both have a mutual passion for a day at the races. They both agree that the best horse which Vinny has been associated with is Dutch Decoy, trained by Charlie Johnson, who has provided the couple with great days out, multiple wins, and the chance to develop friendships with fellow owners.

Vinny and Sue's daughter Kimberley with grandmother Pat at the Epsom 2004 Derby.
Saturday 5th June 2004
Epsom Derby
1. NORTH LIGHT (7/2) ridden by Kieren Fallon
2. RULE OF LAW (20/1) ridden by Kerrin McEvoy
3. LET THE LION ROAR (14/1) ridden by Mick Kinane
Catterick* Chelmsford* Chelmsford City* Cheltenham* Chepstow
Chester* Clifton Park* Closed Courses* Colwall Park* Curragh*
Derby* Doncaster* Downpatrick* Down Royal* Epsom*

Vince with Dutch Decoy's jockey Ollie Stammers at Newmarket in 2023

Dutch Decoy, a chestnut gelding born in April 2017, was Vinny and Sue's favourite horse. It ran 50 times when trained by Charlie Johnson, winning 6 races, placed second on 6 occasions and third times.  His wins were:-
9th July 2022 Hamilton 10/1 ridden by Oliver Stammers
22nd July 2022 Newmarket 9/2 ridden by Oliver Stammers
12th August 2022 Newmarket 4/1 ridden by Oliver Stammers
22nd July 2023 Newmarket 5/1 ridden by Oliver Stammers
10th July 2025 Newmarket 14/1 ridden by Jack Mitchell
19th July 2025 Newmarket 11/4 ridden by Jack Mitchell
Vinny and fellow shareholders celebrate Dutch Decoy's win at Newmarket in July 2022.
Vinny celebrates Dutch Decoy's victory at Newmarket's July course in August 2022
Exeter* Fairyhouse* Fakenham* Ffos Las* Folkestone*
Fontwell* Four Oaks Park* Gatwick* Goodwood* Gowran Park*
Hamilton* Hawthorn Hill* Haydock* Hereford* Hexham*

On Saturday 24th August 2024 Sue Hinde was the owner of Subsequent for the day through the Sports4causes scheme and she, and husband Vinny, were thrilled that the horse won by a length and three-quarters in the hands of Callum Hutchinson.
Saturday 24th August 2024 at Newmarket
JenningsBet Over 200 Shops Nationwide Handicap over 1 m 6 f
1. SUBSEQUENT (6/5 fav) trained by Andrew Balding and ridden by Callum Hutchinson
2. CALVERT (6/1) trained by Roger Teal and ridden by Mia Nicholls
3. FOX JOURNEY (6/1) trained by Sir Michael Stoute and ridden by Pat Dobbs
4. STRUTH (9/1) trained by Charlie Johnson and ridden by Oliver Stammers
5. MR FREEDOM (3/1) trained by Miss S West and ridden by T Whelan
Hooton Park* Huntingdon* Hurst Park* Keele Park* Kelso*
Kempton* Lanark* Leicester* Leopardstown* Lewes*
Lincoln* Lingfield* Ludlow* Manchester* Market Rasen*

Vinny and Sue celebrating the win of Ensured at Newmarket on Vinny's 62nd birthday on 3rd August 20024. Sue had bought Vinny ownership for the day for his birthday through the Sports4causes scheme and Ensured duly obliged when trained by Jamie Insole and Dr Richard Newland and ridden by Saffie Osborne.
Saturday 3rd August 2024 at Newmarket
Turners Park Group Ltd Handicap over 1m 4f
1. ENSURED (6/1) trained by Jamie Insole and Dr Richard Newland and ridden by Saffie Osborne
2. FIGHTER COMMAND (13/8 fav) trained by John & Thady Gosden and ridden by Rab Havlin
3. LUDO'S LANDING (8/1) trained by Charlie Johnson and ridden by Billy Loughnane
4. CHARGING THUNDER (15/2) trained by David O’Meara and ridden by Neil Callan
5. YOUTHFUL KING (22/1) trained by L A Dace and ridden by Jack Dace
6. MIGHTY BANDIT (9/4) trained by Warren Greatrex and ridden by Edward Greatrex

 

Sports4causes is a brilliant initiative promoted through the racing industry across all British racecourses enabling racing enthusiasts to be an owner for the day when the actual owners of the horse are unable to attend on that day. Sue and Vinny recognised it as the ideal birthday present for each other because the scheme offers all of the perks of an owner on race day, including being presented with the winner's prize if your chosen horse is successful, although any winning prize money remains with the actual owners.
Musselburgh* Naas* Navan* Newbury* Newcastle*
Newmarket* Newton Abbot* Northolt Park* Nottingham* Pershore*
Perth* Plumpton* Pontefract* Punchestown* Redcar*
Ripon* Salisbury* Salisbury Plain* Sandown* Sedgefield*
Southwell* Stockton/Teesside* Stratford* Taunton* Thirsk*
Towcester* Uttoxeter* Warwick* Wetherby* Wincanton*
Windsor* Wolverhampton* Worcester* Wye* Yarmouth*
York*