The Ontario harness racing world was turned upside down on Friday when it was announced that three of the country's top drivers were fined and suspended for reportedly conspiring to fix races.

Drivers Brad Forward, Gene Piroski and Kevin Wallis are accused of affecting the outcome of horse races at the Windsor Raceway.

Forward, who led all Canadian drivers with 374 wins this season, received a five-year suspension and a fine of $5,000. The 39-year-old Woodstock native won the national driving title in 2009 before going on to represent Canada at the world championship later that year.

Piroski, of Cottom, Ont., received a 10-year suspension and a $100,000 fine for his alleged role in the scandal. The 37-year-old won 105 races this season and had 1,611 career victories.

Maidstone native Wallis was hit the hardest, though. He received a 12-year suspension and was fined $100,000. Wallis, 53, ranks 12th on the all-time win list and has made a reported $42.9 million in earnings
over his long career.