i always thought if a horse refuses
 

when put in gate and gate opens and he just stands there you get a refund
not the case i guess in todays 2nd at aqut
any reason for that/ what constitutes the stewarts claiming i had a far shot in this instance?

I have never heard it interpreted like that. Usually if the gate opens, and the ass. starter was not holding the horse for some reason, then the horse had every shot to break, the fact that it didnt is not anyones fault but the horse.

Just bad racing luck is all.

You only get a refund if the gate crew does something to cause an unfair start for the horse, usually they hold onto the horse after the gates open. If the gates open and the gate crew releases the horse but the horse refuses to run and leave the gate or stumbles or is very slow out of it, the horse is a live bet and you will not get a refund.