A Canberran has come out on top in the fashion field at a horse racing event in country Victoria.

Peter Keast won the men’s category in the Fashions on the Field at the Manangatang Cup earlier this month.

Manangatang is a small country town more than 700 kilometres south of Canberra.

Mr Keast wore a mix of clothing he purchased second-hand, in Canberra and on trips overseas.

“The jacket came from St Vinnie’s (op shop) a few years ago and the pants I bought second-hand as well, it’s a soft material,” he told CD.

He purchased the shoes in the German town, Passau, the tie from Maasai (pastoralist) women in Tanzania and the shirt from Canberra shop Rodger Bartholomew.

Mr Keast said the “cheap hat” he wore was accompanied by a band made by his wife, Trish, to match his tie.

“I won $500 but that wasn’t the motivation,” Mr Keast said.

The 71-year-old said he wanted to show the younger men in his family that age doesn’t diminish a person.

“I’ve always dressed well but to put myself in front of a crowd like that was unnerving,’” Mr Keast said.

“It’s not the thing blokes do at my age.”

It was the first time Mr Keast had attended the races.

Manangatang only has a population of several hundred people which swells to the thousands for the annual racing event.

The first horse racing meeting at Manangatang was held on Easter Monday, 9 April 1917, as a fundraiser for the construction of a local hall, according to the Manangatang Racing Club website.

More than 500 attended in that first year, where six races took place, and £100 was raised. An athletics carnival was held on the same day.

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