Walter Edmund O'Hara (April 20, 1897 – February 28, 1941) was an American horse racing executive who was the first President and Managing Director of the Narragansett Racing Association, which owned and operated Narragansett Park, a Thoroughbred horse track in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
[1][2] In 1933, O'Hara was instrumental in bringing about an investigation of the Massachusetts State Police, which led to the resignation of Public Safety Commissioner Alfred F.
He considered purchasing the Polo Grounds and constructing a sliding roof so the New York Giants could play in bad weather.
[1] In 1934, the parimutuel wagering was legalized in Rhode Island and O'Hara, along with James Dooley and Archie W. Merchant, formed the Narragansett Racing Association.
He established an alliance with former state Budget Director Thomas P. McCoy who was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Rhode Island in 1936.
Attorney General of Rhode Island John Patrick Hartigan then got the restraining order set aside by the court's presiding judge.
[2][6] On September 15, 1937, the Rhode Island Supreme Court unanimously decided to quash the division's order to remove O'Hara.
The division sided with the Governor and ordered O'Hara's removal and indefinitely suspended the track's license at the end of the summer races.
On October 17, Quinn declared that Narragansett Park was "in a state of insurrection," and ordered the National Guard to enforce martial law.
As no judge was available to receive bail at that time, deputy sheriffs guarded O'Hara all night in a room at the Providence Biltmore.
[7] On November 30, 1937, O'Hara petitioned the Superior Court for a temporary receiver of The Star Tribune, stating that he had "lost hundreds of thousands fighting for right".
[2][6] On February 9, 1938, sheriff's deputies battered down the Narragansett Racing Association' doors and seized records on order of Superior Court.
O'Hara received 12,696 votes as the Square Deal party's candidate in a race that was won by Republican William Henry Vanderbilt III.
He believed that the Sumner Tunnel was inadequate to handle the amount of traffic the track would receive, its location near oil tanks posed a possible fire hazard, and the purchase price of the land was too high.
[1] After his death, a legal battle ensued as to whom was entitled to ownership of O'Hara's two life insurance policies worth $80,000.