No matter whether you want to bet on horses for the pure enjoyment of it, or because you want to win a bit of money, its always a good idea to understand the right way to make the best horse racing picks.

So, how can you learn the best way to choose the right horses to bet on? There are as many methods out there as there are betters when it comes to interpreting the odds and choosing a winning horse. Some methods are more intuitive, whereas others offer more scientific precision.

Some people, for example, like to pick horses based solely on random factors like the horses name. But, if you want to be a serious better and make good horse racing picks, there are three critical steps that you should follow.

First, make sure you do your homework about the horses that will be competing in the race. There is plenty of information available, particularly if you will be making your bets online. Do your research and use the available information to your advantage.

Take advantage of the benefits offered online. You can read just about a horses entire performance history online. In particular, look for how long ago the horse raced last and what the horses performance was in his past couple of races.

Keep your eyes open for horses that have raced recently, within the past 6 weeks or so. Steer clear of horses that have not raced in several months. Just because a horse has not won the last couple of races does not mean you should discount that horse entirely, but you should evaluate this information along with other factors.

Second, make sure you do not forget to do your homework on the jockey that will be racing the horse on that day. While the jockey certainly does not bear all of the responsibility for the horses performance, the way the jockey rides certainly does come into play.

You will want to know how experienced the jockey is, and how he is performed in his past few races. If you find that a certain jockey has a performance of under 3%, then you may want to bet on a horse with a different jockey.

Lastly, do your homework on the track where the race will be happening. This is yet another factor in your decision that may play a role in the final outcome of the race. Knowing how the track is laid out can help you figure out if it is well suited to one of the horses that will be racing on a given day.

Simon Skinner has worked in the online gaming industry since 2000. He has worked for some of the premier online sportsbooks and now runs internet marketing for BetAmerica - the premier online US horse betting website.