The state’s Racing Commission declined a request for about $308,000 to fund three weekends of races at North Dakota Horse Park in north Fargo, said Winston Satran, racing director for the commission.

In December, the Racing Commission had approved dates for four weekends of racing in Fargo from July 22 to Aug. 14. The grant proposal turned down at a Tuesday commission meeting would have helped pay for operating expenses and purses for winning horses.

While the park closed in April 2010 because of about $150,000 in debts racked up in 2009 – the last year there were races at Fargo’s track – Satran said those bills are almost entirely paid.

However, the bill-paying has left the nonprofit that runs racing at the park, Horse Race North Dakota, with little in its reserve accounts, Satran said.