Page 21 - 22 February 2013

“She has a true passion for the sport and she’s concerned about the horses’ well being.”
knew had a financial or health-related emer- gency. “If you don’t know her you might think she’s a cranky little rascal, but I’ve seen her do some amazing things,” said Muldrow.
They all agree she’s fun to be around. Muldrow related one time she, Gotovac and others went out to eat during Gotovac’s cancer treatment period. One woman, not thinking, complained about her bad hair day. “Oh, your hair?! Just look at this!” Gotovac exclaimed, pulling off her cap to reveal her bald-as-a- billiard-ball head.
WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS
Gotovac spends her days as internal auditor for her hometown of Midland, Texas. She also enjoys travel, photography and wine tast-
ing. And, in addition to Quarter Horses, she dabbles in Thoroughbred racing. “One thing I’ve written down on my bucket list is to be in the All American, which I was with Swingin Daddyo,” she said. “Another is to be in the Kentucky Derby. That first Saturday in May has always been Derby Day, and I’ve always dreamed of having one in there. It’s so much fun to see your home-breds, even more so than seeing your horse win as an owner.”
Gotovac also belongs to the “Young and Breastless” breast cancer survivors’ group in Midland, Texas. “The five-year mark is a milestone,” she said, “which I’m very blessed to have achieved. As you hit each one of those milestone years, you feel better about it all.”
Her fellow survivors started the “Fight Like A Girl” t-shirt tradition that continued every time Swingin Daddyo raced. The Young and Breastless group bought the shirts from a young lady who was selling them to raise money to participate in a three-day 60-mile walk for breast cancer, and they wore them to the Ruidoso Futurity trials in 2009. When Swingin Daddyo qualified, Gotovac decided they were his lucky shirts, and they wore them every time he raced.
“It was a lot of fun to take people who’ve never been to the races or had any vested interest, and then win and have them in the winner’s circle picture,” Gotovac said. “Swingin Daddyo qualified for the Ruidoso Futurity on Memorial Day, and now every Memorial Day they want to go to the races!”
The excitement has carried through to the annual naming of the foals, when Gotovac posts the babies’ photos on Facebook and asks her friends for input.
Not surprisingly, her favorite part of raising runners is foaling time. “I love to see the babies!” she said. “I love to see them when they’re just born, and grow and develop and get their little personalities. And it’s interesting to see how the different sires produce different personalities.
“It’s just so much fun to love on them and get that love back,” she added. And the same could be said of her relationships with her con- nections and her support-group friends.
Swingin Daddyo goes wire-to-wire winning the 2010 Grade 1 $873,441 Rainbow Derby
Vital Winner comes on strong to win his first of two consecutive SLM Big Daddy Stakes by 1 1/2-lengths at Remington Park in 2008 after breaking 9th from a field of 10
Swingin Daddyo led the post parade for the Breast Cancer Pinkout at Ruidoso Downs, with Debra Gotovac and their supporters, who wore pink at the gelding’s retirement from racing in 2012.
SPEEDHORSE, February 22, 2013 19
Ruidoso Downs
Dustin Orona Photography Ruidoso Downs