why do they call nyc the big apple

The nickname "The Big Apple" for New York City originated in the 1920s from the world of horse racing. It was popularized by John J. Fitz Gerald, a sportswriter for the New York Morning Telegraph, who heard African American stable hands in New Orleans refer to New York City's racetracks as "the big apple," meaning the most desirable prize or top prize in racing. The phrase came to symbolize New York City as the place of ultimate success and opportunity in horse racing. In the 1930s, jazz musicians adopted "The Big Apple" as a nickname for New York City, representing its status as a cultural and jazz epicenter. The term was revived in the 1970s by the New York Convention & Visitors Bureau in a tourism campaign to improve the city's image during a time of economic downturn and high crime. This campaign helped cement "The Big Apple" as New York City's beloved and internationally known nickname. The apple symbolizes success, desirability, and abundance, with roots in horse-racing slang where an "apple" was a prized reward. Ultimately, the nickname reflects New York City's identity as a place of ambition, opportunity, cultural diversity, and resilience.