Evening star., 1936-03-12
photo on Page A-2.D
BY JAMES e. CHINN.


Walter E. O'Hara. prominent sports
man and race promoter, assured the
Judiciary Subcommittee of the House
District Committee today that If Con-
gress will legali7e racing in the Dis
trict he viii erect on the site Of the
old Benning race track the finest race
course in the country"
One Of the first witnesses called
by the suhcommittee ut its hearing
on the Norton bill to legalize racing.
O'Hara expressed the opinion that a
track in Washington would be profit
able, yielding the District 100000 q
year in new revenue.
Senators Bilbo, Democrat, Of Mis-
sissippi, and Carey, Republican, of
Wyoming, both members of the Sen
ate District Committee, sat with the
subcommittee to avoid need Of hear
ings before the Senate Committee, II
the bill gets that far
Ready to Exercise Options.
'I desire to see this bill passed
strictly on its merits" OrHara said.
IF it is passed and I am granted a
license by the racing commission, I
am prepared to exercise promptly the
options now hold On the site Of the
old Benning track and adjacent land.
In time, because of its natural
setting, and with the completion Of
the elaborate plans of the Federal
Government for parkway in this
area, believe 1t also will become the
most beautiful track in the country.
When the racing bill for the Dis
trict was under consideration in the
House two years ago, it was esti-
mated by its proponents that the
sport would yield approximately
100000 -" which was to accrue
from q 2 per cent tax or take on
the pari-mutuel betting and q To-
cent tax on each admission.
"The bill now before this committee
proposes to increase the tax or take
for the District from 2 per cent to 31s
per cent and the 10-cent tax on ad-
missions Is retained under the bill
as it is now written. I believe 1t
would produce approximately 100000
a year in new taxes for the govern
ment of the District, which may en-
able the District" to continue vital
projects and services that it may be
necessary to either curtail or aban-
don under the restrictions imposed
by the new budget.
Employment for Many Seen.
"The employment that will be pro-
vided by the construction, mainte-
nance and operation Of the track
will take hundreds of persons from
the city's welfare and relief rolls,
thus making another direct and def
mite contribution to the employment
of the city's fiscal condition.
"' In addition to the standard
mile racing strip, we plan to build a
steeplechase course for the devotees of
this fascinating and spectacular
branch of the sport, who are par
ticularly numerous in Washington,
Virginia and Maryland. We also plan
to give substantial rewards to the
winning horses bred In Maryland, Vir-
ginia and Washington.
'It is estimated that the construc-
ton of the track and the installation
Of these expensive improvements,
which the racing public everywhere Is
now demanding, will cost in the neigh
borfood Of $4,000, 900 and the cost Of
the land will necessitate an investment
Of $2,500,000.
Naturally, think q race track In
the District would be paying propo-
sition. otherwise I would not be pre-
pared to make this investment or
take this risk, but I do not anticipate
any extraordinary returns"