For those of you not as old as I, when you went on this merry go round,
or others like the one at Martha's Vineyard (may not still be there),
you could reach out and try to grab a ring as you rode by. Most all the
rings were silver colored, but if you got a brass ring, you could give
it to the merry go round operator for a free ride. There is,or was, and
expression "Reaching for the brass ring" meaning hoping to have good luck.
Finally, I think there was a spike or nail on the horse's head where you
could put and store the rings - but the basket makes me think you could also
throw the non brass rings back into the basket. Anyone remember?