First of all, no matter where Thoroughbreds race on the flat, past age 7 they generally start to have their powers diminished. Occasionally, one sees an 8yo perform well, rarely a 9yo and hardly ever a 10yo.
Unless...unless, they are Thoroughbreds that go over barriers, in which case age seems to be less of a detriment, because a lot of them started late, their speed can be doled out during a race and, even though they race farther, there is much less demand placed on them for sustained speed or strength.
As for sweating, there are two reasons that horses sweat: a) climate and b) temperament.
As for So African horses, they are treated differently going to post than in most countries.
In the majority of all racing venues, Thoroughbreds get saddled, walk around the paddock, are brought to the track, they are warmed up and they race.
Not so in South Africa, where the horses leave the paddock, immediately are allowed to run down the course, after which they may be warmed up a little, followed by riders dismounting, walking their horses in small areas, then remounting and racing.
A high-strung horse may sweat up, but then be allowed an opportunity to calm down during the few minutes that the rider is off his back. So the ones that do go to post sweaty really are nervous to a point beyond where they are happy to be entered in a race. Their performance reflects their lack of desire to participate.
In some locales, where the weather is humid, sweating freely before a race is actually desireable.
As for distance racing, the trips over which horses race have been shortening for the past few decades. This is a world-wide phemonenon. One only has to look at Australia, where any race beyond a mile is now rare. They have gone from traditional English-style racing to Quarter Horse-style racing.
Blah, blah, blah, etc., etcl., etc.
P. S. There is nothing wrong with your trainers or their methods.
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