We had a good racemare that was a bit laid back at times and she needed some sort of a jazz up in the prelim. in order for her to put her game face on. The trick was to wander out like it was just a training trip then catch her unaware by yelling/banging the shaft/dust sheet/wheel disk etc. Another good one was to pull up right alongside one of those thin metal sponsor's signs and give it a good solid kick or whack it with the whip. BANG! It was just like turning on a light switch. In time, when she got used to that sort of routine, we'd put her in the bike the day before a race & let her gallop flat out for as far as she wanted to go. That used to work a treat too. Changing it up on them in a race can do wonders also...as long as you let the Stewards know your intentions prior to the race, of course.