The Beat Ray Everyday Beach Boss contest rolls into closing weekend at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, Calif., with analyst and television host Tom Quigley joining Michelle Yu and me to handicap Saturday's Grade 2 Del Mar Derby presented by Caesars SportsBook.
Quigley – whose paddock observations and handicapping tips from Southern California racetracks are a mainstay on Twitter at @Quigleys_Corner – points out that the Del Mar Derby was first run in 1945 as the Quigley Memorial. No, Tom Quigley is not THAT old; the race was named in honor of William A. Quigley, a former college football player and coach who lived in La Jolla, just a few miles south of Del Mar.
Inspired by Santa Anita's opening in December 1934, Quigley brought the idea of a racetrack at Del Mar to singer Bing Crosby in 1936 and was a founder of the seaside oval with Crosby and entertainer Pat O'Brien.
So there's the history of the Del Mar Derby's original name.
More importantly, who will win this year's renewal? Watch the video below to see who Tom, Michelle and I like in the 2021 Derby.
Beat Ray Everyday is a season-long free to play handicapping contest offering as first prize two VIP tickets to the 2021 Breeders' Cup world championships, to be run at Del Mar on Nov. 5-6. Contestants have had the opportunity to wager a mythical $100 in win, place and show bets on a selected race each day of the meet, and the winner will be the person who has the highest bankroll after Monday's closing day. Here are the current standings.
Beach Boss will be back for the Bing Crosby meeting that opens on Nov. 3 and runs through Nov. 28. Details will be available here.
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