Winning at the track takes more than just luck. It is important to have a system in place if you are serious about winning big and winning consistently.

Consistently using a good system will help you to win continuously over the long-term. Of course, this does not mean that you should stick with a bad system, believing you will eventually win.

These are some things you should consider when betting so that you have no regrets at post time.

Horse

Looking at individual horses will be the first consideration in deciding who to wager on.

The odds may change as the race approaches, but they will give you a good idea of the horses likelihood of winning. Long shots are less likely to win, but if they do, you will win big. Favorites have a strong shot at winning, but you will win less money betting on them.

Also, check out the horse before the race if you can. Make sure the horses look healthy and alert. Horses who seem overly anxious, lethargic or have dull coats may have health problems that will affect the race.

The Jockey

It is generally better to bet on horses ridden by experienced jockeys. This is because they have more skill and practice handling situations that may come up in the race. For example, a horse stumbling in the gate or being afraid of the whip of another jockey or getting bumped hard coming out of the gate. New jockeys may also do very well, but they have not run into the situations experienced jockeys have learned to handle.

Inexperienced jockeys may also have trouble handling strong or difficult horses who are especially exited on race day. In addition, they may miss an opening to pass another horse or not take a risk that a more experienced jockey would be comfortable taking to win the race.

The Track

Track condition affects how horses run on race day. It is very important to consider this factor before placing your bet.

Remember that a muddy or sloppy track will be slower than a dry one. This is also true for turf tracks. Also check the horses history in various track conditions because many horses have preferences and dislikes when it comes to the surface they run on.

The Record

You will want to bet on a horse who has run recently and who ran well. Horses who ran poorly or who have not run in a long time may not be good bets. They may be coming back from an injury or have another problem that is not easily seen. The racing form will have information on the horses most recent races.