O Dea

IF WE ARE KNOWN by the company we keep, Lynda O'Dea is well-known indeed. That was evident last Thursday when hundreds of prominent Baltimoreans arrived at the Hyatt Regency for a tribute to her which benefited the Maryland Lupus Foundation. For many of the guests, all they needed was yet another dinner to attend, but they were there because of their association with and affection for O'Dea. Can you imagine the social schedule of a Jim McKay or Lt. Gov. Mickey Steinberg?Janet Bouton of the Lupus foundation said it best when describing what O'Dea's involvement with lupus had done for them.

Appearances deceive.Look at Lynda O'Dea and it's easy to see only the glamour. The long blond hair falling softly around her shoulders. The diamond ring sparkling on her right hand. The stride as graceful as any prize thoroughbred's.To some degree, that's been Ms. O'Dea's forte over the last five years -- selling the glamour and excitement of Maryland horse racing. As vice president of marketing at Laurel and Pimlico race courses, she created glorious casinolike Sports Palaces, surrounded races with lavish special events and polished up the image of the Preakness by introducing a now legendary lawn party for corporate high rollers.

EMMY-OSCAR WINNER Vincent Gardenia will be in town to pick up a Biffy for his mantel April 7 when the Baltimore International Film Festival honors him at its second annual Biffy Awards gala at the Baltimore Museum of Art.The awards will be preceded by a screening of some of the actor's work, including scenes from "Moonstruck" and "L.A. Law."HEAD CASE: Remind us to tell you privately one day about how this columnist got locked in a bathroom with (and by) gonzo journalist Hunter Thompson the other night at Max's on Broadway after asking him to inscribe a couple of hardback copies of his first book, "Hells Angels."

LAUREL -- Lynda O'Dea has resigned from her day-to-day position as marketing director at Laurel and Pimlico race courses to start her own consulting business, track president Joe De Francis announced yesterday.O'Dea, who has worked at the tracks since 1984, will retain a working relationship with both tracks. She has been given the title "vice president and consultant."De Francis also announced the appointment of Tim Capps as vice president of racing and public relations. Capps, former editor of Thoroughbred Record magazine, now defunct, leaves his position as vice president at Matchmaker Services.