I'll look into the stewards telling someone that horse should have been a non-starter. I'm not necessarily doubting you but I've learned to be careful what I believe around the racetrack.
As for the incident Thursday, the starter can't be considered accountable for everything that happens in the gate and I'm in no position to place blame. Since the change in Saratoga things have been very good overall. Nobody was more vocal publicly than I was about the problems at the gate but I haven't been unhappy with what I have seen since the summer. That doesn't mean things are necessarily perfect but in a very tenuous situation it's difficult to place blame. The gate is an extremely dangerous place whether the starter is competent or not.
That horse is probably the best horse in that field and just feels like a horse that for whatever reason blew it in its debut. I have to trust what I see, and like you I didn't see anything with my eyes that indicates starter error, and I'm sure you'll agree that many racetrack stories need to be taken with a grain of salt.
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