George Lambert has lived a colorful life.

His occupation was mostly breaking in and working with thoroughbred racehorses. Lambert worked off and on – 38 years altogether – for Charles Whittingham, who was one of the most accomplished and respected trainers in the second half of the 20th century and is enshrined in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame.

He was there as a spectator to witness Seabiscuit defeat War Admiral in the “Match of the Century” later chronicled by Laura Hillenbrand in her book-turned-motion picture, ‘Seabiscuit.’

Lambert had a chance encounter with famed union leader Jimmy Hoffa about a week or so before his mysterious disappearance in 1975.

To say George Lambert led an interesting life would be an understatement, according to Debbie Campbell of Ripon.

Her mother, Juanita, has been with Lambert for nearly 50 years. They’ve lived in Manteca since 1994 and have especially enjoyed the neighbors at the current home of the past five years in the central part of town.

“He still tries to mow his own lawn,” said Campbell of her father.

Lambert, 99, shot back, saying: “I shave it with a weed-eater.”

He’s a week shy of turning 100. He’s seated with Campbell on Friday at a local Mexican restaurant noshing on chips, salsa, guacamole and a bean dip – he’s abstained from red meat for his entire life, admitting that he did have a very modest serving of Thanksgiving turkey – has maintained good health.

“I’ve never been sick a day in my life,” said Lambert, who has suffered several bumps and bruises that required hospital attention while breaking in horses.

He also enjoys sipping on brandy.

Campbell is planning his 100th birthday bash on Saturday, Dec. 4, at Chez Shari in Manteca. George Lambert will officially become a centenarian the follow day. She’s expecting friends and family, 36 in all including his wife, Juanita, to come near and far for this special occasion. Her brother Phillip Parr, who is retired U.S. Navy, will be coming in from Guam.

Those in attendance can expect to share and hear stories of Lambert from many lifetimes ago. He remembers mostly everything from the time he was age 6.

Lambert grew up in Virginia, where he learned to become a horseman from his grandfather.

At 14, he tried being a jockey only to be “too big.”

Lambert was a fighter and a hustler.

At 16, he fought professionally as a bantam weight (118 pounds), compiling a two-year impressive boxing mark of 9-0-1 including nine by knockout. He quit the fight game after a disputed draw. “I got robbed and said the heck with it,” Lambert recalled.

He made money during the Great Depression and beyond. “I always found a way to hustle,” said Lambert, who once purchased a racehorse from a dying man for $1,700 only to sell it two week later for $37,000.

Campbell recalled the story her father shared with her about Ralph Neves.

“He was the jockey with toe tag,” she said.

Neves was a jockey known for a horrific incident that occurred at Bay Meadows in 1936. He was thrown off his horse and pronounced dead. On the way to the morgue via ambulance, Lambert noted, Neves, who a toe tag et al suddenly came back to life.

“He demanded to get back to the track – (Neves) went on to win two races,” Lambert said.

As a trainer, Lambert had many great moments and some not-too-great. At the Sonoma County Fair, his three horses – Flee T. Nevada, Miss Alissa and Hee Hooley – posted victories on July 14, 1978.

In the 1960s, he had Kentucky Derby favorite Eagle Admiral, who was scratched from the big race after being injured in the stall. His other thoroughbred, Department of Hustle, as a “mudder” – that’s the definition of a race horse that runs well on a wet or muddy track – stood a good chance in the Derby given the conditions that day.

Lambert, who had some choice words, blamed the jockey, saying: “He pulled the horse.”

His frustration, looking back, was understandable. “Having a horse in the Kentucky Derby is once in a lifetime,” he added.