BISMARCK—Horse racing is coming back to Fargo.

The North Dakota Racing Commission voted Thursday to approve Fargo races for July 14 and 15 and July 21 and 22. The second weekend is contingent on Horse Race North Dakota raising enough money to offer the races.

Horse racing supporters pushed for two weekends of racing instead of one during the meeting and convinced commission members to give them time to collect money for another weekend.

Horse Race North Dakota President Wes Heinert said he was “very, very happy” to get racing back in Fargo.

He praised the support of the community for making it happen and said he was “almost positive” enough money would be raised to offer the second weekend. Heinert asked to have until April 1 to collect the additional $36,000 needed for the second weekend’s operating expenses.

In related business, the commission also approved race dates for Belcourt: June 9 and 10, 16 and 17, 23 and 24, and June 30 and July 1.

Belcourt’s Outdoor Recreation Development Association will receive $142,000 of purse money for this year’s races, while Fargo’s Horse Race North Dakota will receive $89,000.

The North Dakota Racing Commission also approved $88,000 for Belcourt operating expenses over the eight race days and $18,000 for one Fargo race day.

John Ford, a San Francisco software executive, promised $18,000 for a second day of Fargo operating expenses to guarantee one full weekend of racing. Ford, who attended Thursday’s meeting, said he supports live racing and wanted to help live racing in North Dakota.

The North Dakota Horse Park in Fargo hosted its first races in 2003 but put racing on hold after 2009 to pay bills and find new sources of revenue.