the term "Grand Prix"

It seems now that the term "Grand Prix" is used by the CART folks in billing some of their races, the MotoGP series, and if I am not mistaken, all sorts of other events.

Was there not a time when the term was used exclusively for the top level car series? I can see the top bike classes using it, but it just seems to be overused for a myriad of sport events.

So there's my question, was it an exclusive term, and when did it begin to be used. (and possibly, was it used before car racing for horse racing or something, and perhaps it doesn't really own any rights to the highest form of auto racing.)

The first Grand Prix was the 1906 French at Le Mans (from memory) and till 1939, "Formula 1" didn't exist as a term, they were simply Grand Prix cars, but even at that stage the term Grand Prix was used to describe minor races as well as major ones.

And I think you might be right about the term first being used in horse racing.

According to Encarta, the term Grand Prix was first used in 1863 for a horse race, the Grand Prix de Paris.

Just checked Britannica as well - it also says 1863 but qualifies it as "probably the first use".

I dont know alot about the history of the term but i belive it was initally used because in means "Grand Prize"