Henry Tompkins "Duffy" Rathbun of Middleburg, founding partner of the Washington law firm Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering, who bred and raced thoroughbreds with his wife Sheilah, died March 19 in Cape Coral, Florida, from complications following a heart attack. He was 87.

A native of Elmira, New York, Rathbun graduated from Amherst College and served on a Navy destroyer escort in World War II. At the University of Virginia Law School, he was on the law review but jeopardized his high class ranking by skipping his last classes to go to the races at Charles Town, WVA, on a blind date with his future wife.

He is remembered, a firm memorial said last week, "for his warm, welcoming and gracious manner and great sense of humor." He is also remembered, the firm said, for having persuaded partner Lloyd Cutler to buy a racehorse with him. The horse lost every race he ever ran, providing "much amusement to Duffy's and Lloyd's colleagues."

The Rathbuns won their first race in 1955 with a filly called "Arietta," who paid a $122 mutuel. In 1963 they bought their farm in Middleburg. They bred and raced numerous winners including stakes winners Worrisome Thing, Miss Otis and Shiny Sheet.

Rathbun collected sporting art and was a supporter of the National Sporting Library in Middleburg. He and his wife were active in the preservation of Virginia farmland, open space and streams.

He was on the board of directors of the Land Trust of Virginia, was a member of the Goose Creek Association, and belonged to the Chevy Chase Club and the Metropolitan Club in Washington. He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Upperville VA.

He is survived by his children, Gordon Forester Rathbun of Middleburg, Jennie Henry Rathbun of Arlington, MA and Sheila Rathbun Benfey of Amherst, MA; and two grandsons, Thomas and Nicholas Benfey.