why is new york called the big apple

New York City is called "The Big Apple" because, in the 1920s, the term referred to the large prizes or "big apples" awarded at horse racing courses in and around New York City. This nickname was popularized by sportswriter John J. Fitz Gerald in his horse racing column, who had heard the term from African American stable hands in New Orleans. The phrase symbolized the ultimate goal or the biggest reward in horse racing, and by extension, the city itself became known as the premier place to be—hence "The Big Apple." The name gained further popularity through jazz musicians in the 1930s and was officially adopted in an ad campaign in the 1970s to attract tourists and restore the city's image.