The Big Apple (one more thought)

[Gerald Cohen]

>  The question:  when that stable hand mentioned he was going to "The
>Big Apple," was he referring to New York City or to "The Big A,"
>Aqueduct Race Track?  Fitzgerald thought he meant the city.  In
>fact, it may be that "The Big "A" (Aqueduct) became known in the
>racing world as "The Big Apple,"  which in turn -- thanks to
>Fitzgerald -- became a nickname later applied to the entire city.
>
>Clark Whelton


  One more thought. See _Morning Telegraph_, Dec. 1, 1926, p.11,
rightmost column, "In the Paddock with John J. Fitz Gerald" (spotted
by Barry Popik):
"So many people have asked the writer about the derivation of his
phrase, 'the big apple,' that he is forced to make another
explanation."

    Note: "HIS phrase." If Aqueduct Racetrack had been called "The Big
Apple" prior to Fitz Gerald's turf columns, no one would have written
to Fitz Gerald asking about the derivation of "his phrase;" the
derivation would have been clear to anyone familiar with Aqueduct.
But again, there is no evidence at all that Aqueduct was known as
"The Big Apple." "The "A" in "The Big A" stood for "Aqueduct,"
nothing more.

---Gerald Cohen