SUMMER MEANS STORMS AND RAIN Why It’s Important to Carry Flood Insurance in Florida As we enter warm, rainy summer months and hurricane season, check in on your current flood insurance policy — or consider carrying it if you don’t have any. At 1,350 miles, Florida’s coastline is the longest in the country. This means that while it certainly is the perfect place for enjoying the sun, beach, and tropical atmosphere, living in the Sunshine State also poses a great risk for floods. But the coastlines aren’t the only areas at risk! In Florida, we only sit about 6 feet above sea level, meaning the entire state could potentially suffer from flood damage. Flood insurance can potentially greatly reduce the risk of suffering significant financial loss after a major storm. But were you aware that your homeowners insurance policy does not include flood insurance protection? That’s right, it must be purchased separately. Flood insurance covers physical damage to both your property and possessions. The limits and amount it will cover depends on the limits you carry within your policy.
EXPLORING THE RISE AND FALL OF BOB BAFFERT While the Kentucky Derby may be the most famous race in the sport of horse racing, the Belmont Stakes, which takes place on June 11, is just as important. These are two of the three races that trainers need to win in order to complete the Triple Crown. Since 1978, there have only been two horses that have completed the Triple Crown, and they both were trained by Bob Baffert. Over the last 30 years, Baffert has catapulted to the peak of horse racing stardom. Baffert grew up on a cattle ranch in Arizona and got his first experience with horses when he was 10 after his father bought some quarter horses. He practiced with these horses before working as a jockey in his teens, then earned his first victory when he was 17. During Baffert’s time at the University of Arizona, he developed a reputation for training horses and was often hired by other stables. He would continue racing quarter horses until the early 1990s when he switched to thoroughbreds. Baffert would go on to win the Breeders’ Cup in 1992 and win two of the three Triple Crown races in 1997, 1998, and 2011. While he was still winning the occasional race, his biggest wins would come in 2015 when American Pharoah became the second horse to win the Triple Crown. But Baffert didn’t have to wait long to win it all again. In 2018, Justify claimed the Triple Crown, solidifying Baffert’s legacy. Unfortunately for Baffert, that legacy has come under fire in recent years. Baffert has had 30 horses that he’s personally trained fail drug tests. Under his care, 74 horses have died since 2000. In 2021, Baffert’s horse Medina Spirit took home victory in the Kentucky Derby, but a post-race drug test revealed the horse tested positive for a prohibited substance. This was Baffert’s fifth violation in a little over a year. Medina Spirit passed away suddenly later that year, causing even more controversy over the legitimacy of the horse’s win. Baffert is currently serving a suspension given by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and Churchill Downs and can’t participate in the Kentucky Derby until 2024. When he returns, his sights will be set on his third Triple Crown win.
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