"Obviously they are long-term investments that have to be made and there's a lot of money involved," he said, adding it included the thoroughbred, harness and dogs codes.
"It's been talked about for a long, long time but it's got to move beyond the talk and [for us to] actually start making some progress on the issue."
The Livamol Classic was abandoned just before 4pm on Saturday after the $100,000 group two Scared Falls Hawke's Bay Guineas 1400m sprint, run at 3.02pm, raised some safety concerns for horses and jockeys.
Five races were yet to be completed, including the $250,000 group one feature race over 2040m and the $70,000 group three Red Badge Spring Sprint over 1400m.
The Hastings track is touted as one of the most effectively drained in this part of the world.
Hawke's Bay Racing CEO Andrew Castles was engaged in ongoing discussions with interested parties throughout the weekend and is, by late this afternoon, expected to confirm a venue and day to complete the five races.
"We need to do some work tomorrow morning but all parties, including NZTR [New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing], the racing board, Livamol the sponsors and Hawke's Bay Racing are committed to try to get the [remaining] races [completed]," Castles said yesterday.
Scores of disappointed racegoers, who had turned out for the premier raceday on Saturday despite the forecast, had slowly drifted from the venue shortly after the official announcement.
HB Guineas runner-up Bostonian, with Mark Du Plessis in the saddle, had slipped as they pulled up in the dramatic finish to the race, which Gary Vile-trained Hard Merchandize and jockey Cameron Lammas won.
"Sometimes you just get beaten by the mother and Mother Nature got us today," Castles said on Saturday.
Allen said it was the right decision because safety was always paramount.
"Absolutely the right process was followed. There was a slip and it was called," he said.
An integrity unit, comprising stewards, came into the play and followed a strict process, which entailed talking to jockeys and inspecting the track, before returning the verdict that it was unsafe.
That, Allen said, was after some work had been carried out on the track with the help of tractors to improve drainage, although similar measures were taken before the start of the first race, Bay Ford NZ Punter of the Year 2200, at 12.37pm after fine drizzle had kicked in from about 8am.
"Obviously it's disappointing for the punters, it's disappointing for the trainers and it's disappointing for the owners but it's particularly disappointing for all those people who were looking to run their horses here in preparation for Australian campaigns over the next few weeks," Allen said.
Rescheduling the five races is high on the agenda but the forecast for Hastings isn't good until Tuesday, so nearby venues may come into reckoning. However, the forecast is no different in other Central Districts (Manawatu, Taranaki, Whanganui) areas or even Trentham (Wellington) and Hamilton, although the club with the best drainage qualities will prevail.
Allen said the Bay club had invested immensely in time, effort and money to host not only the Livamol Classic but also the two previous group one legs of the spring carnival, the Tarzino Trophy and the Windsor Park Plate, from last month.
"It's an enormous commitment from the club, many who are volunteers who helped prepare the track impeccably for the racing today but the weather gods have been against them," he said.
Allen said the cumulative impact of the persistent drizzle meant it affected the top surface of the track and didn't drain away, making it slippery.
