The answer to your question is pretty simple in my opinion. As most punters are either on the favourite, or watching the favourite, because it is a market danger to their bet, of course they notice when the favourite rears at the start. But they don't take any notice and remember the $20, $50, $100 chances that also rear at the start. I suggest you keep some stats and then you will see that your myth of it always seeming "to be the favourite which misses the start" will be disproved.