First “Big Apple” citation: May 3, 1921
Gerald Cohen found the first "Big Apple" in a John J. Fitz Gerald horse racing column. The term "big apple" meant the big time, big money New York tracks.
From the New York Morning Telegraph, May 3, 1921, page 9, column 3:
"J. P. Smith, with Tippity Witchet and others of the L. T. Bauer string, is scheduled to start for 'the big apple' to-morrow after a most prosperous Spring campaign at Bowie and Havre de Grace."
From the New York Morning Telegraph, May 3, 1921, page 9, column 3:
"J. P. Smith, with Tippity Witchet and others of the L. T. Bauer string, is scheduled to start for 'the big apple' to-morrow after a most prosperous Spring campaign at Bowie and Havre de Grace."