HANDBOOK OF THE TURF. 61 



into which the bearings are set — which piece is fitted tightly 

 into the ends of the hub. One of these cones is called the 

 stationary cone, and the other the movable cone, the latter 

 being used in adjusting the tension of the bearings, by means 

 of a spanner wrench. 



Conformation. External points ; the particular tex- 

 ture or structure of outward form, and the arrangement and 

 relation of the parts which compose it ; general structure. 



Congress. The sessions of the American and National 

 Trotting Associations are held biennially, and are called a 

 congress. At each officers are elected, the rules and laws 

 revised, and other business pertaining to the good of the asso- 

 ciations transacted. See American Turf Congress. 



Consolation Race. A consolation match, or race, is a 

 contest which can be entered only by those who have failed to 

 win in the previous, or regular purses, or contests offered by a 

 track or member, which have taken place within a given time. 



Contending Horses. In any heat of a race it will 

 very soon appear that several of the starters are dropping to 

 the rear, and that the heat lies between two or three horses 

 that are quite evenly matched. Such horses are called the 

 contending horses, because the battle of the heat is narrowed 

 down to them. 



Contraction of the Hoof. A shrinkage of the tissues 

 of the foot, by which the lateral diameter of the heels, in par- 

 ticular, is diminished. It affects the fore feet chiefly. It is 

 of less moment if affecting the hind feet, because the hind 

 foot first strikes the ground with the toe, and less expansion 

 of the heels is necessary than in the fore feet when the weight 

 is first received on the heels. Where produced by inflamma- 

 tion, accompanied by disease of the foot, or any change in its 

 normal condition, though not producing lameness at the time 

 of the sale of a horse, it is an unsoundness if lameness after- 

 wards follows. 



Converted Pacer. Many natural pacers have been so 

 trained as to leave their natural gait and acquire the trotting 

 gait. Such are termed converted pacers. The methods used 

 to accomplish this are as varied as are the dispositions of the 

 horses. Weighting in different ways, the use of the cross- 

 strap, the placing of rails on the ground at such intervals as 

 will compel the horse to put his feet down in the diagonal 

 order, and many others. Charles jMarvin, in telling how he 

 trained Smuggler — Training the Trotting Horse — says : " I 

 would start him up slowly, and rather suddenly throw him oft' 



